The Provincial Government has committed to fund the relocation and restoration of an old railway station in Perrelos, Carcar City in order to make way for a road-widening project in the area as well as preserve the said historical structure.
Gov. Gwen Garcia made the decision during a meeting on Monday night, may 20, with Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas, officials from DPWH Cebu District 1 Engineering Office, heritage consultant Dr. Jose Eleazar Bersales, and private lot owners.
The historic railway station will be relocated to a site near the existing tourist rest area (TRA) in Carcar City near the City Hall, where it will be replicated and restored.
DPWH’s road widening project along the national highway has been stalled because of the station’s current location. But Gov. Gwen said this could become an added attraction once relocated near the TRA.
According to Dr. Bersales, the Perrelos Station was a fourth-class railway station of the Philippine Railway Company and is one of only two intact and unaltered train stations in Cebu. The other one is in Simala Elementary School, Sibonga, also beside the national highway.
Gov. Garcia emphasized her commitment to preserving Cebu’s heritage and remnants of the past for future generations to see just how rich Cebuano culture and traditions are.
The owner of the lot where the station currently stands expressed satisfaction with the governor’s decision, while Mayor Barcenas also welcomed the plan.
Additionally, stakeholders at the meeting agreed to preserve another heritage structure that will be affected by DPWH’s road-widening efforts in City of Naga — a heritage house over 100 years old owned by the Libor Family.
Gov. Garcia praised the heirs of the century-old house for maintaining its historical integrity. To protect the house while allowing the road project to proceed, it was agreed that the structure would be moved back to a different part of the lot owned by the heirs, with DPWH compensating the family for the relocation.
Both these initiatives demonstrate the Capitol’s dedication to balancing development with the preservation of Cebu’s cultural and historical assets. | CL