𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊, 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟖 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄
After years of inactivity, the Cebu Provincial Heritage Commission has sprung back to life with a renewed focus on safeguarding the province’s cultural assets.
Its first order of business is to amend an 18-year-old ordinance to broaden its scope.
The commission held its first meeting in several years on Thursday, March 5, at the Governor’s Conference Room, where members laid out plans to strengthen conservation efforts across the province.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Ace Durano, who also serves as the commission’s executive director, presided over the gathering.
He was joined by Board Members Red Duterte, Mike Villamor, Paz Rozgoni, and Stanley Caminero. Also present were department heads from the Capitol, as well as representatives from the National Museum of the Philippines, the University of San Carlos, and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
Among the key outcomes of the meeting was the need to amend the Cebu Provincial Heritage Site Ordinance of 2008 to expand its coverage and toughen legal protections.
-Capitol Heritage Consultant Architect Robert Malayao explained that the current ordinance mainly focuses on tangible heritage, such as physical sites like buildings, monuments and landscapes. However, the commission, he said, recognizes the need to protect intangible cultural wealth as well.
“I believe Gov. Pamela Baricuatro understands and respects the heritage component and the importance heritage protection and conservation brings to Cebu Province,” Malayao said.
The proposed amendment seeks to formally integrate intangible heritage into the legal framework.
This includes living traditions such as oral history, performing arts, rituals, and traditional knowledge, which are passed down through generations. While tangible assets like churches and landmarks can be physically preserved, intangible heritage relies on practice and transmission to survive.
PLANS FOR 2026–2028
The push to revise the ordinance is part of a broader, multi-year strategy. During the meeting, Malayao presented the commission’s proposed plans for 2026 to 2028, which aim to align heritage conservation with social, economic and environmental goals.
The initiative aims to achieve four key impacts: social and educational transformation, economic and tourism growth, governance and legislative reforms, and technical and environmental resilience.
These goals include preserving heritage for future generations, strengthening community identity, promoting sustainable tourism, improving policy frameworks for heritage protection, and adopting scientific and climate-resilient conservation standards.
Specific projects on the drawing board include the restoration of historic landmarks and churches, the establishment of a conservation laboratory, and the integration of heritage protection into provincial urban planning.
The commission is also looking to forge partnerships with national and international institutions, develop technical training and certification programs, and create a digital repository with a standardized system for heritage documentation. | Capitol PIO
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