THE construction of the CFI building within the Capitol compound followed heritage standards, said Cebu congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate Gwendolyn Garcia.
Garcia issued the statement on Tuesday, February 19, after her rival, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale claimed that the CFI Building was constructed within the buffer zone of the Cebu Provincial Capitol, which is considered nationally-declared heritage structure.
Earlier, Magpale was surprised that many complained when Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III initiated the construction of the Capitol Resource Center but no one questioned the construction of the CFI building within the Capitol compound many years ago.
Garcia was one of those who opposed the construction of the Capitol Resource Center as it would violate heritage laws.
The 10-storey CFI building was constructed in 1998 during the time of Garcia’s father, former Cebu Governor Pablo “Pabling” Garcia.
The building serves as the headquarters of the Cebu CFI Community Cooperative, which was founded by Garcia’s mother, the late Esperanza Garcia.
“Talking of buffer zones, look at the CFI building right inside the Capitol compound. There was not a whimper when this was built,” Magpale told reporters.
The National Heritage Act or Republic Act 10066 states that it is prohibited to the modify, alter or destroy a heritage site’s original features, whether for construction or real estate development without prior written permission from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
The prohibition includes the designated security or buffer zone which extends five meters from the visible perimeter of a monument or site.
Garcia, in a separate interview, defended the CFI building, adding they followed heritage laws nefore they initiated construction.
“The CFI building is sitting within a private property and falls within what is allowed under our heritage laws. The law states it is prohibited to construct within the five-meter perimeter of the Capitol compound. What they are constructing (Capitol Resource Center) is within that perimeter,” Garcia said, in Cebuano.
Garcia said she refuses to disclose her next legal move against Davide and other Capitol officials following the groundbreaking of the Capitol Resource Center last Monday, February 18. (AZLG of Superbalita Cebu/JKV)