ILOILO CITY – Donations snowballed after the city government took back donated furniture and other equipment from Museo Iloilo.

THE Museo Iloilo is one of the earlier museums outside of Metro Manila.  (Tara Yap)

Private donors who remained anonymous stepped up their philanthropy.

One of the private donations was industrial air coolers that temporarily replaced three air-conditioners taken by Iloilo City Hall personnel. It will alleviate the warm temperature inside which is a discomfort to museum visitors.

Other donated items taken by City Hall were 100 chairs, steel cabinets, closed-circuit television cameras, a vacuum cleaner, a ladder, glass-panel door, and a hand-held water pump.  These were donated during the administration of former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

“This has put the museum’s mission to preserve and celebrate Iloilo’s cultural heritage at risk,” said Nereo Lujan, chief information officer of the Iloilo provincial government and a heritage advocate.

“We call on the community to come together and support this vital institution. Contributions will help replace lost items, maintain and enhance exhibits, conserve valuable artifacts, and continue educational programs,” added Lujan.

This was the latest controversial action from Mayor Jerry  Treñas,

The Treñas administration earlier this month evicted the Department of Public Works-Iloilo City and cancelled seven key DPWH infrastructure projects facilitated by Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda, who the mayor cut political ties with.

Treñas dismissed claims that his administration’s actions against Museo Iloilo are politically motivated.  He pointed out that “public property cannot be used for private purposes.”

The mayor’s sister-in-law, Gina Sarabia-Espinosa, is the incumbent president of the Iloilo Cultural Research Foundation Inc. (ICRFI), which manages Museo Iloilo.

Treñas defeated brother-in-law Jose Espinosa III, incumbent city mayor during the 2019 elections.

VISITORS take photos and check artifacts on display at the Museo Iloilo in Iloilo City.   (Tara Yap)

There are talks that Espinosa might ally with Baronda who Treñas announced will be replaced by his daughter Raisa Treñas-Chu as the city’s next congresswoman.

“Let’s keep Museo Iloilo above politics and ensure it remains a vibrant hub of history and culture for everyone,” urged Lujan, who is facing cyber libel complaints filed by Treñas for criticizing the mayor and his administration.

Prior to the political breakup with his in-laws, the mayor was an active supporter of Museo Iloilo.

When he was congressman, Treñas was said to have facilitated repair for the roof and repainting of the interior of the museum.

The mayor and his brother lawyer José Maria “Jomari” Treñas, a known art collector, frequented Museo Iloilo for decades.

The Museo Iloilo stands in a lot donated by the Iloilo provincial government.

The museum’s structure was built and owned by what is now the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT).