Concerned with the conservation and preservation of a city in Cebu and a municipality in Ilocos Sur, the Senate approved on third and final reading two local bills declaring them as heritage zones.
Approved were House Bill Nos. 5644 and 7927. The measures seek to declare Carcar City in Cebu and San Vicente in Ilocos Sur as heritage zones respectively.
Senator Win Gatchalian, chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture and sponsor of the proposed measures, said the declaration and establishment of the heritage zones are in accordance with Republic Act No. 10066 or the “National Cultural Heritage Act of 2099.”
Gatchalian said the cultural landmarks and historical sites in both places will be preserved with the passage of the measures into law.
“Carcar, known as the Heritage City of Cebu, is home to vintage houses and school buildings that showcase the architecture of the Spanish and American periods.”
“Carcar, known as the Heritage City of Cebu, is home to vintage houses and school buildings that showcase the architecture of the Spanish and American periods,” the veteran legislator said.
On the other hand, the seasoned lawmaker said, San Vicente in Ilocos Sur is home to structures that give a glimpse of life during the Spanish colonial period.
These include the old San Vicente Church, an example of Baroque architecture; the Palacio del Gobernador, the Gabaldon building during the American occupation and the Spanish Baldi, structure consisting of a well and a compartment that used to collect the fermented solution of indigo that was shipped to Mexico.
Once the bill is enacted into law, the senator said the Department of Tourism, in coordination with the Provincial Government and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and its affiliated cultural agencies, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall immediately prepare the development plan involving the preservation, conservation, restoration and maintenance of cultural and historical sites and structures in the two areas for the enhancement and sustainability of tourism.
Once the bill is enacted into law, the Department of Tourism shall immediately prepare the development plan.”
Meanwhile, the Senate also passed on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2364 which seeks to recognize CCF Life Academy Foundation Inc. as an educational institution of international character, granting it certain prerogatives to hasten its growth.
Gatchalian, who introduced the bill together with Senate President Tito Sotto and Senator Joel Villanueva, said the passage of the bill into law would enable the school to continue carrying out its educational program, improve its standards of instruction and meet the special needs of foreign temporary resident community for quality education.
It would also enable the school to accept provisions and donations of every kind to carry out the purposes of the school and be entitled to use properties, real or personal, and to construct and own buildings exclusively for educational purposes.
