ILOILO CITY — The local government of Alimodian, Iloilo will ask the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to reconsider its decision asking them to look for another site to build a multipurpose building instead of the half-century-old town plaza.
NHCP Chairman Rene Escalante, in his letter dated last July 31, said the Alimodian town plaza is an “integral part of the heritage of the municipality” and, being 50 years old, it is “considered an important cultural property.”
Escalante explained that the town plaza must be protected from any modification or alteration in compliance with Republic Act 10066, also known as the Heritage Law, and thus should not be the site of the multipurpose building the town government has begun to construct.
He said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already issued Memorandum Circular No.02, which directed all its building officials and engineers to “consult and coordinate with the national cultural agencies for any proposed development concerning heritage sites and strictures.”
Alimodian Mayor Geefre Alonsabe said they have no other alternative site yet for the transfer of the PHP4.6-million project. Supposedly, the DPWH has accomplished 1.44 percent of the project.
Alonsabe said the multipurpose building would provide residents comfort when they gather at the town plaza for various activities.
“We do not intend to alter and cut trees there,” he said, adding that they are now preparing the necessary documents for their appeal to the NHCP to include, among others, the signature campaign, petition of the residents and resolution.
“We will appeal and see what we can do since most of the residents favor to have this multipurpose building,” Alonsabe said.
The mayor earlier claimed that 98 percent of the town residents favor the construction of the building at the plaza.
However, a group of residents calling themselves “Save Alimodian Plaza” opposed the construction of the building at the public plaza, which they called a “heritage space” and “sacred public space.”
The group also wrote a letter to Escalante last July 23 to raise their concern about the construction of the project.
The opposition prompted Alonsabe and the Iloilo 4th District Engineering Office of DPWH to suspend the construction of the project starting July 25 to settle the issue.
Last Aug. 1, Alonsabe initiated a public hearing to clear out issues regarding the project. Together with engineer Mario Soriano, Officer-In-Charge of the 4th District Engineering Office, they agreed to suspend the project temporarily as they seek validation from the NHCP.
The DPWH is carrying out the project with budget sourced from its General Appropriations Act. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
