On construction of facility behind museum: City Council seeks answers from CPA

CEBU, Philippines —  After the dispute with Compania Maritima, the Cebu Ports Authority faces another concern with the Cebu City government, this time mainly concerning the construction of a new facility behind the National Museum of the Philippines-Cebu.

Based on the speech of Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera to the council, they found out that the said facility in question is an RC Deck Port phase 1.

NMP-Cebu, formerly the Customs (Aduana) building, was designed and built in 1910 by Architect William Parsons, said Garganera.

After serving as a customs house for 94 years, the building was converted into Malacanang sa Sugbo in 2004 but was later closed after the 7.2 earthquake that hit Cebu in 2013.

It has now been opened though and converted to the first National Museum in Cebu through a usufruct agreement with the Cebu Ports Authority.

The said building had already been declared by the NMP as a National Cultural Treasure.

Garganera said that in 2020, he authored and passed Ordinance No. 2582 which provides the protection and conservation of Local Historical Landmarks, Monuments, Shrines, and Museums. Among the protected heritage sites listed is Malacanang sa Sugbo now NMP-Cebu.

“Currently, under the ordinance, the ongoing construction behind the Museum does not violate the provisions of Article VII Section 12 pertaining to the modifying, altering, or destroying of the original features nor the 5-meter buffer or security zone within the visible perimeter of the monument,” he said.

“If there is indeed any violation, the National Museum would be the first to know since they are the repository of laws pertaining to the preservation and conservation of heritage sites,” added Garganera.

The Freeman tried to get a statement from NMP-Cebu’s head, Audrey Tomada, concerning the matter but she said she was not aware of councilor Garganera’s privilege speech in the first place.

On the other hand, Garganera stressed that “this is more of a query, rather than a prosecution. We’d like to gain insights into the plans so we can offer ours. A conversation. An exchange. A collaboration to better serve our constituents,” he stressed

“Will this ongoing construction hamper, complement, or even enhance the look behind the Museum? …Will this improve the view of passengers or vessels passing along the channel? ….Is there a master plan for our port areas? Is there a plan to construct buildings within the vicinity of the museum?” he added.

“Based on the posting outside the area, the project is the construction of the New R.C. Deck Port Facility (Phase 1).We completely understand the relationship between the City and CPA with all the ongoing legal disputes. But this does not, in any way, hinder any future coordination between the two agencies,” Garganera said.

However, two other city councilors want more answers, with City Councilor Rey Gealon asking the National Historic Commission to inspect the area as it may be another “photobomber” just like what happened with Luneta Park with the construction of the Torre de Manila.

Gealon is also urging OBO and the City’s Legal Department to look into it.

“This is a national museum, it has its national significance. Why would you place a structure at the back of a national museum when supposedly we are to enjoy our right to enjoy a 360 view of a national heritage, a national culture. This is the only one we got..By all cost and by all means, we must protect it. We in the City of Cebu thru the August body, cannot allow that it will happen in our area and city,” Gealon said.

Councilor Pesquerra for her part, shares that the ongoing construction is indeed “appalling” as it affects the view of the national museum.

Aside from that, Pesquerra is pushing for the City Assessor’s Office to conduct an inspection and assessment of CPA’s real properties.

“It’s high time that we start collecting CPA for the property taxes from the time that it was created way back in the early 90s,” Pesquerra said while also asking President Bongbong Marcos to

allocate the entire area at the back of the NMP under them.

The City Councik, with Vice mayor Raymond Garcia back at the helm, have agreed for an executive session with CPA and other concerned entities concerning the said matter. — ATO (FREEMAN)