The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG has joined forces with local officials and archeological experts in the exploration of Fort Almonte, a Spanish Fort ruins located on the Liangan River Delta banks.

In a statement, the DILG said the activity was made in a bid to boost the cultural and tourism governance of the local government units (LGUs) in the concerned areas.

The DILG also noted that the exploration aims to come up with a comprehensive scientific “Archeological Study and Report for Fort Almonte to understand its history and significance as well as reconstruct its past.’’

“It also aims to petition Fort Almonte as a national cultural treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and to be part of an educational material that may be ready for public exposition,’’ the DILG said.

The exploration activity is being done in partnership with the  provincial government of Lanao del Norte, town of Bacolod, Barangay Liangan East, Bacolod, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Archeology.

"The archeological study in our peace and development lens is seen to expand understanding and foster a multi-dimensional appreciation of shared history, not only focused on the history of conflict but more on nurturing better understanding and collaboration of peoples from different races and faiths to co-creating a shared vision for peace, development, and good governance," said DIL:G Provincial Director Bruce Augusto Colao.

In the arena of tourism development, Colao noted that the study is also seen to help ease the burden of the stigma of conflict affecting Lanao del Norte “when in truth and in fact it is one of the most peaceful provinces in Northern Mindanao.’’

The DILG added that the efforts in local tourism and tourism development are now covered under one of the governance areas of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), acknowledging that all undertaking, may it be at the local and national level, are aligned and consistent with the vision of a whole approach in governance.

The UP School of Archeology delegation conducted the exploration from Aug. 1 to 20.