Ignoramuses?

A. Paulita Roa

MY heart sank when I saw the photo and read the accompanying article in Philippine Daily Inquirer (Feb. 8, 2016) about the Iriga City Hall that was demolished save for the facade. This edifice built during the American colonial period  is considered an important heritage structure and it has a similar architectural design with our old Municipio (City Executive House) that was built in 1940. According to the article,a  lease agreement was signed by the city government represented by Mayor Ronald Felix Alfelor with Bellagio Holdings Inc. last September. Iriga city officials said that the remaining facade will be incorporated to a Puregold commercial building that will be constructed on the  site of the old City Hall.

Before it was demolished , the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), acting upon the petition of four barangay captains issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) with a recommendation that the heritage building be preserved as a whole and integrated to the new structure. However, this was ignored by the Mayor. He probably was led to believe that it was enough to maintain the facade. What he does not know is the fact that the building should be preserved in its entirety and that no part should be demolished.

Alfelor is in the same company with Mayor Joseph Estrada who is responsible for the infamous September 2014 Massacre where three heritage landmarks of Manila were demolished by private developers. Here in Cagayan de Oro  many will never forget nor forgive former Mayor Constantino Jaraula for demolishing a well loved heritage structure–the Community Amphitheater. The Amphi, as it was popularly known, was for decades the center of major political, cultural and social events of the city. In its place is an expansive concrete structure that many called  the “bridge to nowhere” and “the city’s highest diving board.”

Before, the priests were blamed for altering and doing major renovations on centuries old stone churches without much thought on its heritage value. Now, it is the local government officials’ turn to demolish heritage landmarks all in the name of commercial progress. It clearly shows that many of these officials are ignorant  of our laws that protect and promote our cultural heritage. They may also be ignorant of the respective history and culture of their town or city so they do not see the value of preserving and promoting their cultural resources.

There is a great need for local officials to be educated on the articles found in the 1987 Constitution that mandates the State to conserve, develop, promote and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage and resources. They should also be acquainted with Republic Act 10066 also known as The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. Let me mention the first objective found in this Act “To protect, preserve, conserve and promote the nation’s cultural legacy, its properties and histories, and the ethnicity of local communities.” It also mandates the state to “further administer the heritage resources in a spirit of stewardship for the inspiration and benefit of the present and future generations.”

Are the LGUs and local cultural stakeholders good stewards of their cultural resources? Your guess is as good as mine!