ILOILO – The construction of a P4.6-million multipurpose building at the public plaza of Alimodian town has sparked debate in the otherwise sleepy municipality.
A group of residents calling itself “Concerned Alimodiananon” had asked National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) chairperson Rene Escalante to put the local government project “on hold, not necessarily to cancel it, until such time when respect for our heritage and the sensitivity of our community are considered through consultation with stakeholders and linked agencies.”
Feeling the pressure, Mayor Geefre Alonsabe called for a public consultation yesterday “para ang tanan maklaruhan” – a move that the group dismissed as something the chief executive did only “after the fact” that they protested.
At the consultation held at the municipal hall, Alonsabe said he would seek the opinion of NHCP on the issue. But he also stressed that should the agency’s position be unfavorable to the project, he would file an appeal.
He claimed “98 percent” of the people of Alimodian support the project.
“Concerned Alimodiananon” raised the following arguments:
* Alimodian’s public plaza is a sacred public space, and any modification must appeal to the sensitivities of the public. It is, in itself, a multipurpose space where, in its clearly delineated “halls,” leisure, social and recreational interactions take place. As a public space, consultation with the community is both legally and morally imperative.
* The plaza speaks to the identity and communal experience of all Alimodiananons. It is distinguishable in character from other town plazas, and presents an image of the townsfolk to non-Alimodiananons.
* The plaza is a heritage space. It is a part of the collective memory of all Alimodiananons.
‘HERITAGE STRUCTURE’
Veteran journalist Nereo Lujan said Alimodian’s public plaza “is already a heritage structure.” He shared some historical tidbits on Facebook:
“When was the plaza of Alimodian built?
“I have not found any record but I assume it was before 1928 because it was mentioned in the book ‘The Sunshine of Manila’ (1928) by Reverend Father Miguel Selga, S. J., director of the Manila Observatory during the period 1926-1946.
“Selga (1879-1956), a Spanish Jesuit priest who studied astronomy at Harvard University, described the plaza of Alimodian as ‘large and free from high trees.’
“‘The whole town with its church and presidencia is surrounded by the Galing Hills planted with high bamboos,’ wrote Selga, also a meteorology professor at the University of the Philippines.”
Lujan posted on Facabook a photo of the plaza of Alimodian taken by Pedro Casanave (1867-1948), an American photographer who resided in Iloilo from 1905 to 1942.
According to him, it was published on page 180 of the “1937 Panay Directory and Souvenir Book” and “most certain, it was taken a year or two before the book came off the press.”
“Calculating from the year of the directory’s publication (2018 minus 1937 equals 81), it is safe to say that the plaza is already a heritage structure,” according to Lujan.
‘FOR THE GOOD OF ALL’
According to Alonsabe, the multipurpose building would house the municipal tourism office and pasalubong center and would serve as an evacuation center in times of calamities.
The building could also be used for indoors activities such as sports competitions and cultural shows, he added.
“Ini nga proyekto kinahanglanon sang tawo kon madayun ini, kag madayun gid bisan indi kamo magpasugot. I am confident that 98 percent of my people amenable gid sa project,” said Alonsabe.
Construction of the multipurpose building started on July 12, 2018. It is a national government-funded project and being implemented by the Iloilo 4th District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 6.
“Wala ako sang tuyo nga gub-on ang banwa sang Alimodian. My prime duty is to give the best service to the people para sa kaayuhan sang tanan,” said Alonsabe./PN
Mayor Kalay and LGU is making it sound like people oppose the Multi-Purpose Building. That is A LIE.
Not a single soul I know opposes the MPB.
However, many who value Alimodian Heritage and collective memory oppose building it in the plaza, a heritage place, and have suggested alternatives.
However, he’d rather elevate it to the National Historic Commission of the Philippined.
The mayor claims it is for the welfare of the people.
If he really cares about that, I think he should simply find an alternative locatio, complete the project, and deal with THE more serious issue – a water supply system that had been problematic for as long as I can remember