The once elegant Manila Metropolitan Theater will become a national historical heritage treasure site once the National Commission on Culture and the Arts gets its hands on it.

In an on-going tug-of-war, the NCCA has gained approval from the Department of Budget and Management to purchase the theatre and preserve it for future generations.

The 270 million pesos needed to purchase the historic building was matched by  funds which the DBM gave the signal it will assist in bidding alongside the Manila city government.

The current owners of the theater is GSIS, and the Manila city government offered to purchase ‘The Met’ from its current owners long ago.

The tug-of-war between Manila’s mayor Estrada, who wants to put the Universidad de Manila’s Institute of Performing Arts at “The Met,” has been capsized by recent news of the restoration project which will make the building a national treasure.

‘The Met’ is one of the grandest Art Deco designed buildings to survive World War II. Over the years it fell into neglect and has decayed severely after GSIS and the Manila city government began their war on ownership and restoration of the once opulent building.