BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Will the two structures within the Cultural Heritage Tourism Zone in the downtown area that were razed by fire on Friday, March 15 be restored?
Mayor Jerry Treñas has instructed the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to inspect the electrical connections of structures in the tourism heritage zone.
“These are the jewels of Iloilo City which are part of our heritage,” Treñas said.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported the fire totally gutted Divinagracia Building on Iznart Street and Celso Ledesma Building on J.M. Basa Street.
The fire broke out at 11:16 p.m. on Friday at the Chinatown block along Iznart Street and was only extinguished at 8:25 a.m. on Saturday, March 16.
The fire originated from Emerald Finance Corporation on the second floor of the Divinagracia Building.
It took firemen about nine hours to finally put the fire out since the buildings also stored highly combustible materials like rubber, ready-to-wear clothing and plastic wares.
The damage to the structures, which spanned a total of 1,078 square meters along Iznart Street and Calle Real (J.M. Basa Street), was pegged at P8.085 million.
In May 2013, the late President Benigno Aquino III signed Republic Act (RA) No. 10555 declaring Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church, the Iloilo City Central Business District, Fort San Pedro, Jaro Plaza Complex, Molo Plaza Complex, and Plaza Libertad Complex as Cultural Heritage Tourism Zone.
The law formally designates Iloilo City as a cultural tourism heritage zone, highlighting its cultural, historical, and architectural significance.
The law also recognizes Iloilo City’s rich cultural and historical heritage and aims to promote tourism in the area while preserving its cultural and historical integrity.
“I will be asking the help of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines what we can do to help preserve these heritage structures,” he added.
Considering the affected structures are private buildings, Treñas said the help might involve technical assistance only.
The law mandates the development and promotion of Iloilo City as a cultural tourism destination, with a focus on preserving and showcasing its heritage sites, landmarks, and cultural traditions.
Likewise, RA 10555 provides for the regulation and protection of heritage sites and structures within the cultural tourism heritage zone, ensuring their preservation for future generations./PN
