Downtown area now a heritage district

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government is making a memorable National Heritage Month 2023 celebration with the formal designation of the city’s downtown area as a heritage district.

Mayor Michael L. Rama, Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia along with some members of the Cebu City Council signed City Ordinance No.2690 creating the downtown area into a heritage site.

The signing was done at the former Malacañan sa Sugbo, now converted into National Museum.

This ordinance, authored by Garcia, who is also the chairman of the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC), is aimed at preserving the city's heritage structures in downtown are.

Included in the Heritage District are the intersection of V. Rama Avenue, N. Bacalso Street, P. del Rosario Street, Imus, General Maxilom Avenue, Tejero Creek, CPA, and Quezon Boulevard shoreline to Barangay Sto. Niño, the intersection of Gen. Gines Street, R. Magsaysay Street, and JM Basa Street, among others.

The ordinance will serve as guide in the development of the area, according to the City’s Cultural and Historical Affairs Office.

While preserving the city’s heritage, the measure is also expected to promote tourism activities to boost the local economy.

A Cebu City Heritage District Council was also created with representatives from multi-sectoral groups, business groups, and the government side among others.

Aside from the signing of the ordinance into law, the city government also staged a heritage gala featuring some of the city’s best talent.

The Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, together with the Cebu City Tourism Commission, also awarded the owners of the Immovable Heritage in the City who preserved and maintained their heritage properties.

Among those awarded included the 1730 Jesuit House Museum (the oldest dated house in the Philippines), Casa Gorordo Museum, Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House, Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu, Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño and Magellan's Kiosk.

For Intangible Heritage, Mr. Richelieu Colina was awarded for "Lagang" crafts. For Institutions, those awarded were Shamrock Bakery, La Fortuna Bakery, University of San Carlos, and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Incorporated.