Baricuatro creates Cebu Heritage Site Commission

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial government has renewed its commitment to the conservation, restoration, and management of heritage sites throughout the province. This follows Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro's issuance of Executive Order No. 79 establishing the Cebu Province Heritage Site Commission.

Signed by Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro on December 12, 2025, the order revitalizes the Cebu Provincial Heritage Site Ordinance of 2008. This measure, which had remained largely unimplemented for years, will now serve as a governing framework to enforce its provisions.

The move comes amid growing concerns over the loss, alteration, and commercialization of historic structures and culturally significant sites in Cebu, particularly as urban development continues to expand into old districts and ancestral areas.

Under the Constitution, the State is mandated to protect and promote the nation’s historical and cultural heritage, a principle echoed in the provincial ordinance that authorizes Cebu to declare and regulate heritage sites within its jurisdiction.

The E.O. 79 reads: "WHEREAS, there is a need to operationalize the said Commission to ensure uniform governance, technical oversight, and policy coordination for heritage conservation initiatives across the Province."

EExecutive Order 79 establishes the Cebu Province Heritage Site Commission as the primary policy-making, regulatory, and technical body responsible for ensuring that heritage conservation efforts throughout the province adhere to uniform standards and clear procedures.

Baricuatro will serve as chairperson of the Commission, with Provincial Administrator Joseph Felix Mari H. Durano acting as executive director, showing direct executive oversight over heritage-related decisions.

The Commission also brings together key provincial offices involved in planning, engineering, legal affairs, and tourism, including the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), Provincial Legal Office (PLO), and Provincial Tourism Office (PTO).

Sangguniang Panlalawigan members who chair committees on tourism, infrastructure, arts and culture, environment, and education are also part of the body. The Commission’s composition extends beyond government, incorporating representatives from the National Museum of the Philippines, the University of San Carlos’ Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and History, and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.

Under the EO, the Commission is empowered to administer provincial heritage sites and enter into agreements with public or private owners to define responsibilities for conservation, use limitations, and restoration efforts.

One of its most significant functions is the authority to review, approve, and regulate all architectural and engineering works within declared heritage sites, regardless of ownership, a power aimed at preventing unauthorized renovations that compromise historical integrity.

Mandatory clearances from the Commission will now be required before any restoration, renovation, or construction can begin within a heritage site, strengthening enforcement mechanisms long sought by conservation advocates.

"Determine permissible uses and allowable scope of work for heritage sites under private ownership to ensure their protection, conservation, and integrity," reads a portion in the EO.

Another key mandate is the maintenance of a comprehensive registry of all Cebu Province Heritage Sites, including those declared by component local government units, creating a centralized database for heritage management.

Petitions for new heritage site declarations will be screened and evaluated by the Commission before being endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, a process designed to ensure that declarations are evidence-based and consistent with established criteria.

The PTO has been designated as the Commission’s secretariat, responsible for record-keeping, coordination, and implementation of approved directives, reinforcing the link between heritage conservation and cultural tourism.

The Commission is required to submit semi-annual and annual reports to the Office of the Governor, detailing the status of heritage sites, ongoing restoration works, regulatory actions, and policy recommendations.

It is also authorized to propose its own annual budget and accept grants or donations, subject to accounting and auditing rules, to support heritage conservation and site development programs.

The EO further provides safeguards for heritage properties in cases of sale or transfer, requiring owners to notify the provincial government and ensuring that heritage-related obligations remain attached to the property.

Violations such as unauthorized construction, defacement, or destruction of heritage sites may now be met with administrative, civil, or criminal action, as recommended by the Commission. — /RAE (FREEMAN)