MANILA, Philippines - Officials of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) are planning to meet with individuals opposing the construction of a parking building near the Ifugao rice terraces in Banaue, to determine the extent of their complaints.
The officials want to know if the Ifugao rice terraces as a World Heritage Site was mentioned in the complaint filed against the proposed P55-million multilevel parking facility.
The petitioners filed the complaint against Banaue Mayor Jerry Dalipog and the municipal council led by Vice Mayor Joel Bungallon.
NCCA legal counsel Trixie Cruz-Angeles said they would meet with the petitioners, stakeholders and local government officials to get a clear idea on the facts used in the complaint and status of the case.
“Whatever was filed by the petitioners, we would have to see if it includes the protection of the site as a World Heritage Site,” Angeles said.
She said that if the petitioners failed to mention that it was a World Heritage Site and the respondents have not filed their response, the complainants might still be able to amend the complaint.
But if the case can no longer be amended, the matter will not be under the jurisdiction of the court and the NCCA could take jurisdiction over the World Heritage Site issue.
“If it is under the jurisdiction of the NCCA, if we issue a cease and desist order that would be a separate case,” Angeles added.
The NCCA may send officers to Ifugao to conduct hearings at the municipal hall.
The petitioners questioned the alleged use of municipal development funds as collateral to secure a loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines to finance the project.
The loan will incur P27.1 million in interest and is payable within 15 years.
The petitioners said the building would be constructed in the town’s only open space, which serves as a venue for festivals and other cultural events that draw tourists.
Dalipog had said there was no problem in the construction of the parking building, citing an environment compliance certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.