Clearances needed over 

old buildings' repairs-NM

TAGBILARAN CITY, October 28 (PIA)--The state now bans the demolition and or tampering of buildings including private houses that are over 50 years old.

A law mandates the securing of permits from identified government agencies so the country's experts can determine the heritage value of such structures before losing it for good.

The National Museum (NM), through its Acting Assistant Director and NM Chief of the Cultural properties Division Angel Bautista said a law provides that these buildings be first assessed for their cultural and heritage value before any works can be done on them.

Out to assess and evaluate the old buildings are the NM and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) for built structures.

And for works of great people, national artists and living tradition carriers, the National Library of the Philippines or the National Archives of the Philippines are the agencies to get through to.

Republic Act 10066 or the Heritage Law categorizes cultural properties whether public or privately owned as movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, works of great men which are over 50 years old.

The categorized built heritage or works of arts should be registered in the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRCP) as they are considered important cultural properties, Bautista said.

And according to the same law, only until these properties have been delisted from the registry and cleared by the NHCP from any cultural or heritage value, then alterations and modifications can be done.

"Nobody is allowed to modify, demolish or ruin it, without the clearance," Dir Bautista stressed at the Kapihan sa PIA aired live over DyTR weeks ago.

The earthquake that hit Bohol in 2013 spurred a flurry of house rebuilding activities that several of Bohol's buildings with heritage value took the heavy brunt.

Most of the buildings however have not been listed in the PRCP as these should have been culturally mapped by LGUs, according to Bautista.

Churches however which were earlier declared National Cultural Treasures or Important Cultural Properties had the government ascertaining their restorations and repair, NM Bautista emphasized.

But private properties, especially those which have to be habituated again have been restored by owners; the restorations were not as true to the original periods.

Section 28 of RA 100066 also empowers the respective agencies of government to issue Cease and Desist Order (CDO) if they find there is a threat of a building, work of art and crafts losing the physical or structural integrity.

The same law provides that the Local Government Units upon where these structures are erected, have been mandated to report so as to prevent further damage and total loss of the structures. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

NM Director Angel Bautista urges LGUs to identify the structures within their areas of jurisdiction that are over 50 years old so these could be assessed and enlisted in the country's cultural properties. This shall also prevent the alteration and demolition of these structures. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)