SAYING it distorts the balance and symmetry of the historical Provincial Capitol building, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) urged the Provincial Government not to proceed with the construction of a 20-storey building at the Capitol compound.
The commission made the recommendation as early as March 2, 2017 yet and relayed it in a letter addressed to Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino.
In an interview yesterday, Tolentino said he has not read the letter.
“Based on the plans you submitted, the new high-rise building is too high that it will distort the balance and symmetry of the old Capitol building. We recommend that the new development must be well arranged and symmetric on both sides of the old Capitol building, thus, there is a balanced placement of buildings within the Capitol complex,” Dr. Rene Escalante, NHCP commissioner and OIC-chairman, said in his letter.
He also asked Tolentino to submit a new development plan based on the recommendations.
“Meanwhile, we enjoin you not to undertake any work or changes in the area until we approve your development plan,” the letter read.
Escalante made the recommendation after Tolentino sent him a letter last Feb. 10, 2017 concerning the proposed construction of the 20-storey Cebu Provincial Resource Center building.
During the public hearing on the project last month, a heritage expert and consultant of Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said she initially advised Capitol officials to come up with a building design that considers the Capitol building’s historical value.
Architect Melva Java said this is important because the proposed building will be constructed within a “heritage buffer zone,” which was created after the Capitol building was declared a national historical landmark in 2008.
The old Cebu Provincial Capitol building was built in 1937 during the time of former Gov. Sotero Cabahug.
Java, who served as Magpale’s heritage consultant, said she had concerns on how the building would turn out especially that it will be constructed a few meters from a historical landmark.
“We have to consider that they are building near a historical landmark. Dili unta ma-polarize ang view sa old structure due to the new structure,” Java said.
The building will be constructed on a lot beside the Capitol building where the Bureau of Agricultural Extension (BaEx) building currently stands.
Under Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, the NHCP, along with the National Historical Institute and the National Museum, has the authority to designate heritage zones to protect the historical and cultural integrity of a geographical area.
In their guidelines, the NHCP called on the National Government, local government units and private sector to synchronize their objectives of restoration, conservation and preservation of historic centers and heritage zones and conform to the approved development plan for these centers.
The same law prohibits “modifying, altering or destroying the original features of or undertaking 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.”
The same prohibition extends to designated security or buffer zones, extending five meters from the visible perimeter of the monument or site.
Following the approval of the P1.5-billion loan by the Development Bank of the Philippines last month, the Capitol has published bid notices for the construction of the building and the demolition of the old Baex building.
So far, no one has expressed interest to undertake the project.