The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will review the alleged heritage violations committed by the implementers of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City.
“Let’s look at the heritage violations of the project, possible heritage violations of the project,” Dr. Ivan Henares told Gov. Gwen Garcia during a meeting at the Capitol on March 13.
Dr. Henares is the NCCA Commissioner on Cultural Heritage. He was joined in the meeting by NCCA Chair Victorino Manalo and NCCA Cultural Properties Protection and Regulation Division chief Joseph Patrick Lee.
Dr. Jose Eleazar Bersales, Capitol consultant on heritage and museum as well as a member of the advisory board of the NCCA, brought his NCCA colleagues up to speed on the situation of the CBRT on Osmeña Blvd.
The Cebu Provincial Government has sought the stoppage of the CBRT project along Osmeña Blvd due to its adverse effect on the iconic facade of the Capitol building, which was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
The bus stations that will be constructed along Osmeña Blvd would also destroy the supposedly unhampered Vista Corridor from the Capitol, Osmeña Boulevard, and Fuente Osmeña Circle — all of which could easily qualify as an Important Cultural Properties which are afforded protection by the law.
Under Sec. 7(e) of RA 11961 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, cultural properties declared as Grade I Level shall be entitled to “[p]riority protection from modification or demolition resulting from all government projects.”
The law added that “[g]overnment projects that may potentially affect the integrity of any Grade I or Grade II Level cultural property must consult with the (NCCA) at the planning stages” as they are afforded a buffer zone of 200 meters.
The Capitol found out that there is no record of any design and plan submitted to NCCA regarding the bus stations on Osmeña Blvd, which is a violation on the part of the proponent.
Chairman Manalo told the governor that they have to review the project as they have just learned about it and the potential violations it poses against heritage preservation laws. Once their study is complete, they shall send a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the project’s implementing agency.
“Let’s look at the heritage concerns, and then I guess we’ll send a letter to DOTr inquiring, basically outlining what they should have done,” Manalo said.
The CBRT project will also be included in the agenda of the upcoming NHCP board meeting on March 20. | Babie Jane Revecoy