BONTOC, Mtn. Province – The goal is for the lifting of the Cease and Desist Order (CDO) of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines!
With the agreement of a small group here, this will hopefully be attained.
A dialogue was held afternoon of April 26, 2017 between concerned citizens who wanted to uplift the sorry or “eyesore” state of the provincial capitol building here..
Half of the building was demolished sometime in 2013 to give way to a supposed 3 storey edifice as proposed by the previous administration of the late Governor Leonard Mayaen.
However, citing the structure’s significance for its historical and cultural heritage value, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) citing a violation of a law for the preservation of more than 50 years old buildings.
The provincial capitol building being built in 1907 by the Americans is now more than 100 years old.
Despite the lapse of more than a couple of years and despite pleadings from then Governor Mayaen with supports even from some local government units, the CDO was never lifted.
Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr., in his opening statement for the dialogue, asked those in attendance for unity in achieving the goal of asking the NHCP to lift the CDO and pave the way for the restoration of the demolished capitol building.
Those in attendance reached agreed on that common ground and to support the restoration/reconstruction of the demolished capitol building with the original façade integrated.
Some issues and concerns on the restoration cropped up. Fr. Marcial Castaòeda asked the basis of the original façade citing that his first observation of the capitol building was the wooden panels.
The basis of restoration is the presently standing half-building; meaning, that structure prior to the demolition.
The present administration though conceding to the restoration of the two storey building had wanted to make underground excavation for multi-purpose use, not only for parking as earlier reported.
It was agreed upon that the excavation be done only underneath the demolished portion. The other half is not to be excavated.
The final stand is that the group supports the restoration of the demolished structure integrating the original façade and the excavation underneath the demolished portion but any objection shall be accommodated.
It was finally agreed that all the matters discussed in the meeting will be brought to the NHCP for consideration of the government agency.
Those in attendance included Fr. Marcial Castaòeda of the Bontoc-Lagawe Vicariate, Fr. Elvie Tulingan of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines, Angie Garado and Paula Acofo of the Business Sector, Former Board Member Ezra Gomez, Ms. Evelyn Miranda, Ciriaco Filog, and Florence Yawan as among the private stakeholders.
Governor Lacwasan, Vice Governor Francis Tauli, IPMR – Board Member Tomas Tawagen, Board Member Andre Claver, Atty. Tomas Kiwang, and Atty. Amador Batay-an, among other provincial government employees, were also in attendance.**Roger Sacyaten
