After years of dormancy, Cebu’s heritage protection body has been revived as the provincial government strengthens efforts to safeguard historic sites amid rapid urban development.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro signed Executive Order No. 79 on December 12, 2025, formally reactivating the Cebu Province Heritage Site Commission.
The move comes in response to growing concern over the gradual disappearance, alteration, or commercial repurposing of old houses, churches, and culturally significant spaces across the province.
The executive order cited Ordinance No. 2008-08, which defines the commission’s composition, regulatory powers, clearance mechanisms, administrative authority, site declaration criteria, limitations on use, penalties, and authority to promulgate implementing rules and regulations.
Under the EO, the commission will serve as the province’s central authority on heritage conservation.
It will set policies, review projects, and ensure that restoration and development within declared heritage sites follow uniform rules.
Baricuatro will chair the commission, while Provincial Administrator Atty. Joseph Felix Mari H. Durano will act as executive director. Membership includes representatives from key provincial offices handling planning, engineering, legal affairs, and tourism, as well as members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan overseeing culture, infrastructure, education, and the environment.
Non-government and academic experts are also part of the body, including representatives from the National Museum of the Philippines, the University of San Carlos, and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., ensuring technical and historical rigor in decision-making.
The commission has the authority to approve or reject architectural and engineering works within heritage sites, whether publicly or privately owned.
All restoration, renovation, or construction projects in declared heritage zones now require prior clearance to prevent piecemeal alterations that could undermine historical authenticity.
It will also determine permitted uses for privately owned heritage properties, balancing owners’ rights with conservation obligations.
To address fragmented records, the commission will maintain a centralized registry of all Cebu Province Heritage Sites, including those declared by cities and municipalities.
New applications for heritage declarations will undergo technical screening by the commission before submission to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, ensuring that decisions are research-based.
The EO also allows the commission to enter Memoranda of Agreement with public or private site owners to define management responsibilities, conservation obligations, use limitations, and the provincial government’s role in site protection, preservation, and restoration.
The Provincial Tourism Office will serve as secretariat, highlighting the administration’s approach to heritage as both a cultural responsibility and a pillar of sustainable tourism.
To ensure accountability, the commission must submit regular reports to the governor detailing site conditions, regulatory actions, and policy gaps.
The EO also safeguards heritage properties during ownership transfers, requiring sellers to notify the province so conservation obligations remain attached to the site. (SBA)
Photo by CBCPNews
