THE artifacts discovered in Danao City, northern Cebu, recently are not from the Old Cebu Railway as had been previously reported, but rather from the railroad track used for coal wagons.
The Danao City Government confirmed this on Thursday, May 18, 2023, based on the research consultations by heritage conservation experts from the University of San Carlos.
Partial results of the Cultural Heritage Mapping revealed that the artifacts discovered by the contractor during excavation work at the Bibiana Mercado Integrated School in Barangay Looc were part of the railway that connected to the main track in mining areas as a conveyor for coal wagons that were used to transport coal, the main source of fuel, from the mountain to the lowland.
The city government claimed that this simply proved that Danao has had an abundant supply of coal from that time, as evidenced by the city's official seal, which features "coal mining."
"This fact is evident in the city's official seal, which prominently features "coal mining" as a testament to its rich coal heritage," the Danao local government unit (LGU) said on Thursday, May 18.
As part of the ongoing analysis by experts, the city promised to take care of and follow the correct procedures to document the said relic.
"This meticulous process ensures that the relic is well-preserved and properly documented, enabling future generations to learn about and appreciate the history of the Old Cebu Railway and its significant role in Danao City's development," the LGU said.
Apart from the found relic, experts are also examining the excavated human bones, which will add information to the history of Danao. (ANV, TPT)