ILOILO CITY – Mayor Richard Garin of Miag-ao town in southern Iloilo province assured that the bandstand would not be demolished as part of the plaza rehabilitation.
“Ang bandstand, wara gina bakbak. Indi ria madura, ibutang lang sa insakto nga lugar (The bandstand won’t be destroyed. It will not be gone, it would be transferred to a proper place),” said Garin.
Vice Mayor Macario Napulan opposed the ongoing demolition of structures at the plaza supposed to be a heritage structure.
Garin said the bandstand is not listed as an important cultural property (ICP) in the list submitted by the local government to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
Napulan said that the project was never approved by the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) and had no public consultations.
Garin said the SB, with Napulan as presiding officer, approved the rehabilitation plan.
He also said the rehabilitation was consulted with the people of Miag-ao as it was listed under the Annual Investment Plan.
Garin said the project is meant to improve the plaza to better serve residents.
The plaza faces a side of the Miag-ao Church, the only World United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Heritage Site in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Garin is seeking reelection while Napulan is running against him in the elections.