Cebuano congressmen and women are supporting Gov. Gwen Garcia over calls to stop construction of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT).
Ako Bisaya partylist Congressman Sonny Lagon, sixth district Congresswoman Daphne Lagon, seventh district Congressman Peter John Calderon and lone district of Mandaue Congresswoman Emmarie Ouano-Dizon expressed their unwavering support to Gov. Garcia for her move to protect the neoclassical and art deco structure that is part of Cebu’s history.
In his statement, Lagon said that the route of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, which will traverse the entire stretch of Osmeña Boulevard and Escario Street, has encroached portions of the buffer zones of the Cebu Provincial Capitol and Fuente Osmeña circle which can potentially violate several laws on protecting and preserving heritage properties.
He added that the Capitol building along Escario Street is one of the last surviving Neoclassical and Art Deco structures in Cebu, having been built during the American occupation in the 1930s and it is a National Historical Landmark that possesses Grade 1 Level Heritage Structure classification which means that stricter protection measures in preserving it should be observed.
“The veil of progress must be pierced when it tends to deface age-old historic structures that will deprive the Cebuanos of their sense of identity through these edifices that reflect Cebu's history and culture,” Lagon said in his statement of support.
“Acting on the need to respect and preserve the culture of the Cebuanos, Cebu Provincial Governor, Gwendolyn F. Garcia has issued Memorandum Order No. 16 Series of 2024 which is in the exercise of her authority to ensure the compliance of laws and regulations that seek to protect cultural properties,” the statement added.
“I, in my capacity as Representative of the Ako Bisaya Partylist, tender my unwavering and unequivocal support to Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia and all her efforts to ensure strict compliance of the law, preserve and protect cultural properties that define the history of Cebu as well as the heritage and identity of the Cebuanos.”
Congresswoman Daphne, for her part, said “every government official has the moral and legal duty to ensure the preservation of cultural properties as mandated by law and springing forth from the dictates of public trust.”
Rep. Calderon, for his part, called for the dismissal of the administrative case Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama filed against the governor before the Office of the President.
"It is appalling that the law and legal remedies are being used (and abused) to diminish and destroy the Capitol's universal and cultural value. Clearly, the administrative case filed against Gov Garcia is frivolous, at the very least, and must be dismissed immediately," he said.
Ouano-Dizon, on one hand, said while Cebu’s continued progress is inevitable, “it should be balanced with the need that our historic past co-exist in harmony with modernity.”
She added that she shares the governor’s call, to join efforts “to respect and preserve the integrity of the Capitol Building’s façade,” as this is the governor’s responsibility “to ensure that relevant laws and rules on its protection are followed.”
For, she said, this is “intended to make sure that future generations of Cebuanos will continue to have a proud connection of its glorious past and heritage.” | PIO