Cultural, heritage mapping of city begins with training

CEBU, Philippines - The Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission and the City Council will hold a two-day Capacity Building Workshop on Cultural Heritage Mapping for non-government organizations, local government units and the academe.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, chairperson of the Council’s committee on tourism and vice-chairperson of CHAC, said the workshop aims to identify the natural and cultural heritage of the city’s 80 barangays.

The workshop will be held starting today at the social hall of Sacred Heart Parish. The workshop will cover discussions on Cebuano History, Heritage and Development and Cultural Heritage Mapping.

CHAC has started identifying possible heritage landmarks, including the Fort San Pedro in Barangay San Roque and Casa Gorordo in Barangay Tinago.

“The results of this cultural mapping will be used as basis for the city’s tourism development plans as well as for the development council resolutions and laws for the conservation of our city’s heritage,” Osmeña said.

Architect Melava Java, one of the commissioners of CHAC, said structures above 50 years old are covered and protected by national heritage laws.

“We are trying to make inventories and identify all heritage sites because we want to take care of them,” Java said, adding that a clearance from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines must be secured before the houses are destroyed or demolished.

Glenda Gabuya, officer-in-charge of CHAC, said they are also identifying old bridges in Cebu City and plans to come up with a guide book for tour guides so that discussions on heritage site in the city will be “consistent, uniform and accurate.”

Java said the National Cultural Heritage Act provides a comprehensive framework for the preservation of Philippine cultural heritage including cultural sites, old buildings, monuments and landmarks that have cultural significance and historical value.

Under the Heritage Law, structures with cultural significance and historical value get automatic protection and are considered national treasure. Any improvements or sale must pass through the NHCP even if the structure is privately owned.

Article XVIII of the law on penal provisions enumerates violations, such as destruction, demolition, mutilation and damage of “any world heritage site, national cultural treasures, important cultural property and archaeological and anthropological sites;” as well as modification, alteration or destruction “of the original features or [construction] or real-estate development in any national shrine, monument, landmark and other historic edifices and structures, declared, classified and marked by the National Historical Institute as such, without the prior written permission from the commission.” —

(FREEMAN)