ILOILO – The Provincial Culture, Arts, History and Tourism Office (PCAHTO) is encouraging all 43 local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo Province to enact local ordinances to safeguard their cultural and heritage sites.
Gilbert Marin, head of PCAHTO, emphasized the need for preservation, conservation, maintenance, and promotion of cultural heritage throughout the province.
Marin expressed satisfaction with several LGUs that have already taken steps to secure historical markers from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) for their notable sites, including the churches in Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, and Leon.
Additionally, the LGUs of Cabatuan, Dueñas, and Passi City are moving forward with similar initiatives.
Marin explained that LGUs can only protect these sites by passing local ordinances that mandate cultural mapping activities to identify and protect valuable cultural or heritage sites.
“One of our main lobbying points with local chief executives is to establish ordinances that safeguard these cultural properties before any damage occurs. It’s through these cultural mapping activities that the significance and necessity of protection for these properties can be justified,” said Marin.
According to Republic Act No. 10066, also known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, all LGUs are required to submit their cultural properties to PCAHTO, commonly referred to as the Tourism Office.
Additionally, efforts by LGUs to protect cultural and heritage sites are highly valued in the evaluation for the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Marin noted that the province’s rich heritage, particularly the churches in the 1st District like Miag-ao and San Joaquin, have significantly attracted tourists in recent years. These sites are often included in the packages offered by local and national tour operators.
In fact, the 1st District, which includes Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Igbaras, and Tubungan, recorded the second highest tourist arrivals in the province in 2023, with 75,755 domestic and foreign visitors.
The 5th District, which comprises the municipalities of Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, Concepcion, Sara, San Dionisio, Lemery, Batad, San Rafael, Carles, Balasan, and Estancia, topped the list with 133,345 arrivals./PN
