SAN JOSE, Antique – The newly reorganized Antique Provincial Council on History and Cultural Heritage (APCHCH) has been urged to help preserve the World War 2 Japanese fortress in the town of Sibalom.
Vice Gov. Edgar Denosta said there are Japanese fortresses in Barangay Bongbongan I, Sibalom and neighboring Barangay Carmelo I in San Remigio.
“Barangay Bongbongan I and Barangay Carmelo I used to be copper mining sites during the Japanese period,” Denosta said.
In fact, he said, reminders of the Japanese occupation could still be found in these barangays.
“When you visit these barangays, you can still see the Japanese military armory, foxholes, approach bridge, lookout tower, and tunnels,” he said.
Denosta introduced a resolution in the Provincial Board on Feb. 4 for the Provincial Tourism Office to conduct a study on these remnants for conservation and promotion as tourist attractions.
The APCHCH was created through Provincial Ordinance 2020-236 approved on Nov. 25, 2020.
Council officers took their oath on March 10 with Fr. Edione Febrero, president of St. Anthony’s College, as head.
The ordinance institutionalizes various acts of conservation and promotion of history, language, culture, heritage, and arts and crafts of Antique and appropriating funds, Febrero said in his message during the oathtaking.
He also said this ordinance complements Ordinance 2018 -164, which provides for the conservation of the historical and cultural heritage of the province and creating the provincial council.
“The two ordinances are the trajectory of what our council will be doing,” Febrero said, adding that after their oath-taking, council members would have a priority setting of what the council will be doing. (PNA)
