ILOILO CITY – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines has issued a cease-and-desist order to the local government unit of Dingle, Iloilo stopping the planned demolition of a church staircase as part of the redevelopment project in the municipal plaza.
THE 19th century Saint John the Baptist Church in Dingle town, Iloilo province. The local government wants to demolish the church’s staircase as part of the town plaza redevelopment project. (Photo courtesy of Reny Mosqueda)
NHCP Chairman Regalado Trota Jose Jr., in a letter to Mayor Rufino Palabrica III, noted that the entrance staircase of the Saint John the Baptist Church is a presumed Important Cultural Property under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
“As a presumed ICP, the 19th century staircase is protected from any modification or demolition,” Jose said.
This was the latest controversy faced by the Palabrica administration over the redevelopment project of the town plaza.
In October 2021, the NHCP also issued a cease-and-desist order pending revised plans to be submitted to NHCP.
The NHCP lifted the cease-and-desist order by August 2022 and redevelopment resumed but the Palabrica administration planned to destroy the church’s staircase to finish the long-delayed plaza project.
The church is part of the town’s plaza complex.
Trota noted a memorandum issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways that “directed city or municipal engineers to consult and coordinate with appropriate cultural agencies prior to the implementation of any proposed developments and demolition to ensure that no historical and cultural sites will not be jeopardized.”
He warned that the NHCP can pursue appropriate legal action against the LGU for non-compliance with the submission of its revised plan for the plaza redevelopment.