Restoring damaged heritage sites

LAST July, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake shook many provinces in Northern Luzon. It was strong enough to be felt in Metro Manila and even adjacent provinces like Cavite and Laguna. The temblor was both massive and deadly as it caused at least 11 deaths, 615 injuries, 33,000 displaced individuals and at least P1.8 billion in damages per news reports. To illustrate its effect, Phivolcs said that an earthquake of such scale overturns and topples heavy objects and furniture, makes it difficult for people on upper floors to stand, and causes slight damage to well-built structures and considerable damage to old or poorly-built structures.

Following the quake, the video of the centuries-old Bantay Bell Tower in Ilocos Sur crumbling and falling apart immediately went viral. Many pictures soon followed showing similar damages in various cathedrals, historical venues, and accommodation facilities. Aside from loss of life and human injury, the quake had also caused significant damage to many heritage sites, as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) said that the aftermath was “far worse” than those of the Cebu and Bohol earthquake last 2013.

In the NHCP’s initial assessment, most structures damaged by the earthquake were declared National Historical Landmarks and Important Cultural Properties such as the Vigan Cathedral, Calle Crisologo, among other old structures and ancestral houses that are protected by Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10066 or the Heritage Law, which we authored in 2009. The Department of Tourism (DOT) also released a list of quake-affected tourist destinations, namely the 19^th-century Santa Catalina de Alexandria Church and the San Lorenzo Ruiz Shrine in Abra, which was declared as a National Cultural Treasure in 2001, Santa Ana Beach Area in Ilocos Sur, and the TIEZA-operated Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel in Ifugao.

Article XIV, Section 50 of the Heritage Law provides for the National Endowment for Culture and the Arts that can be used for any effort at restoring heritage sites. Such fund is administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, is held in a special account in the Bureau of Treasury, and can be used exclusively for the implementation of culture and arts programs and projects. Moreover, the Heritage Law states that “all cultural properties declared as important cultural property may also receive government funding for its protection, conservation and restoration.”

In the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA), P1.289 billion was allocated to various heritage-related programs and projects. Of which, P82.6 million is for the restoration, preservation, and conservation of numerous national shrines, museums, structures, and landmarks under the NHCP’s budget, including P97.9 million for the restoration of Gabaldon and other heritage school buildings. 

Clearly, resources will be needed in the coming years to restore and rehabilitate the heritage sites damaged by the earthquake. And the effects of utilizing these resources will be magnified if they coincide with other assistance projects.

For instance, RA 11346, which we sponsored in 2019, provides that certain portions of excise tax revenues from tobacco products shall be allocated and divided among tobacco-producing provinces, including those hit by the earthquake such as Cagayan, Isabela, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, among other northern provinces and used for programs benefiting tobacco farmers.  Such programs may include farm-to-market roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, rural health facilities and irrigation systems that are much needed given the temblor’s aftermath.

An article by the provincial government of Manitoba, Canada detailed the numerous benefits of conserving heritage structures. For one, restoration projects boost employment as labor takes up 60 to 75 percent of the total project cost, while the remainder is allotted for materials. This finding is backed up by the United States General Services, which said that rehabilitation “creates two to five times as many jobs as new building construction.” In addition, preservation is environmentally-friendly as it uses less energy and generates less waste.

We commend the NHCP for their commitment to rehabilitate the heritage sites damaged by the July 2022 earthquake and the DOT for acting with dispatch to extend assistance to affected stakeholders and tourism establishments. These efforts can easily be ramped up through private sector support, especially if they extend their helping hand to the relief and reconstruction of these sites and structures. And it is important that a unified effort is directed in this direction, as these structures form part of the country’s rich culture and heritage, and therefore should be preserved for future generations. The UNESCO underscored that heritage is “a valuable factor for empowering local communities and enabling vulnerable groups to participate fully in social and cultural life.”

***

Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 18 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 9 as Senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 250 laws.  He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.

***

Email: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara/PN