MAASIN City Mayor Nacional Mercado said it is up to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to decide on the Diocese of Maasin’s letter request to "remove" a 243-year-old structure located “within the compound” of a diocese-ran private school in the city.
“We do not have authority over that. It falls under the NHCP, so I have to refer it first to them,” Mercado said.
While the mayor said that he is aware of the letter request that went viral on social media, he appealed to the public and the netizen who expressed dismay over the issue to “just let the NHCP decide on this matter since this is under their jurisdiction.”
“The letter was legitimate. We received it last October (2018) and endorsed it to Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP). When SP turned down their request, we advised them to write to NHCP. It is now for the diocese to write a letter request to NHCP,” Mercado said in an interview.
As of press time, SunStar Philippines has yet to get a reply on its email and text inquiry from the diocese over the issue.
Mercado maintained that “if the structure will fall under cultural heritage structure, then I think it must be respected.”
According to the alleged letter, the request to remove the structure is to give way for the construction of the additional building to accommodate the “growing population” of the school.
It cited that the old structure “is not capable of holding the weight of the intended new building at the said area and would just compromise the strength and safety of the said new building” based on the suggestion of its structural engineer.
Meanwhile, Mercado said the City has ongoing rehabilitation of the old municipal hall with coordination and plan approved by the NHCP.
He said the NHCP is also funding the rehabilitation of the provincial library located in the city.
Asked if the city tourism has a list of potential cultural heritage structures, Mercado said “it is the NHCP who will evaluate.”
“But the local government unit can submit a list for accreditation and funding for rehabilitation to NHCP when they decide that the said structure is qualified,” Mercado said.
The mayor said that “only the church, library and old municipal building, to name a few” are listed.
Mercado reiterated that NHCP will be the one to determine if the 243-year-old “tower” is under cultural heritage structure and qualified for preservation.
Meanwhile, known professor and historian Rolando Borrinaga said “the structure is supposed to be worth preservation,” citing the National Heritage Act of 2009.
The structure was built in 1776 by the Augustinian fathers, he said.
In 2013, netizens and alumni also criticized the demolition of the old high school campus stage of the said Catholic private school, adding the “lack of sensitivity” among its top management.
However, a top school official defended how the school was “well-managed.”
“The new structures seen at present are always in view of giving to students the best from the school and not in view of any other thing...Crowded classrooms and holding classes on playground areas within the campus are not conducive to learning. Who owns the school is the one who decides what to do with it with the cooperation of Parents Teachers Association,” said the top school official.
In a report, the official assured that its top management “is sensitive to the needs of the growing number of students” who are enrolled in the school every year. (SunStar Philippines)