HAPPY WEEKEND
By Gina Dizon
BONTOC, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE - Responding to a resolution hastening work on the declaration of old buildings in the Mission Compound as heritage sites during the recent convention here of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP), Diocesan Bishop Brent Alawas forwarded that initial work be followed up from concerned offices.
Delegates from the more than a century-old Church of St Mary the Virgin (CSMV) in their congregational resolution identified four centennial-old old structures namely the Girl’s Dorm, Boys Dorm or the Lyceum, Mission Office and the Printing and Carpentry Shop at Latang be declared as heritage buildings and undergo restoration.
Bishop Alawas said he has already given his endorsement in 2014 to a separate petition forwarded by interested person and CSMV member Angel Luke Bagano to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) for the restoration and preservation of said structures as heritage sites.
The NHCP in its guidelines accommodates petition of a concerned citizen/ stakeholder, private owner, government agency and the NHCP itself with supporting documents in the recognition of a heritage site or building.
Earlier,Alawas in his message during the 2012 centennial program of St Mary’s School urged that efforts be done towards the designation of the Girls Dormitory as a Heritage House by the NHCP and to seek their assistance in the preservation and maintenance of the centennial building.
NHCP guidelines provide that historic sites and structures listed in the National Registry shall enjoy the support and protection of the NHCP subject to the availability of funds. The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009" or RA 10066 provides that the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA) may provide financial assistance in the form of a grant for conservation or research on cultural property.
The RA 10066 identifies provisions for the application of a potential heritage site as a national cultural treasure shall commence upon the filing of a petition by the owner, stakeholder or any interested person, with the NCCA which shall refer the matter to the appropriate cultural agency.
Upon verification of the suitability of the property as a national cultural property, the cultural agency concerned shall send notice of hearing to the owner and stakeholders including, but not limited to, local government units, local culture and arts council, local tourism councils, non-government conservation organizations, and schools, may be allowed to file their support or opposition to the petition.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Sagada through a resolution has favorably endorsed the petition of Bagano to the NHCP to declare the Mission Compound as a historic and heritage site.