NHC stops demolition of historic capitol building

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- It is now a year ago when part of the old capitol building in this capital town was demolished to give way for construction of new provincial capitol.

Activities however were put on hold by the National Historical Commission following issuance of a cease and desist order issued by the NCHP on April 25, 2013 to stop dismantling of the old building.

The CDO was reiterated August 2013.

NHC chairman Maria Serena Diokno told Gov. Leonard Mayaen suspension of all activities affecting the cultural structure while “reiterating the need to preserve the old structure and the components already dismantled for integration into the new development.”

The provincial government was earlier given options in dismantling old building: preserve the building and reconstruct the interior with re informed concrete or steel framework, dismantle wooden building wing and reconstruct its architecture using simulated concrete material and dismantle the wooden building and integrate its façade into a new replacement building.

The above options required prior approval of the architecture design by the NHCP and extensive photo documentation before, during and after intervention.

The NHCP earlier suggested “a new and appropriate sized capitol building be constructed at another site to accommodate various offices and functions of the provincial government while the original front wing of the old capitol building is preserved as a provincial museum, cultural and tourism office or training and conference center.”

In the midst of NHC’s cease and desist order, the Sangguniang Bayan of Bontoc called for the lifting of the CDO of the NHP noting that there was already partial demolition of the old building.

Diokno said any resolution favoring lifting of the CDO would have no effect on the CDO and would not excuse the provincial government from being compelled to comply with Republic Act 10066 or the National Heritage Act of 2009 which provides tall structures more than 50 years old are presumed “important cultural property buildings” having historical values are potential tourist attractions.

Calls to preserve the old structure were noted in 2011 and from some women’s groups a year ago.

The capitol building holds a rich historical story having been constructed in 1908 with the south end having served as official residence of the governor manifested by the demolished fireplace made of bricks.

The veranda and the wide living room which later served as the legislative hall and later as Lang-ay Hall served as sleeping quarters of visitors from other places.

Then called the Bontoc Government Building, the two-storey rectangle shaped building was protected by brick –made columns and walls at the first floor while the wall and columns of the second floor were of wooden materials.

A two storey building was built in the 1930s at the back and was connected to the main building by wooden footbridges.

This housed the assessor and health offices later demolished and a four storey concrete building constructed sometime in 2007 to 2010.

The right and left wings of the main building were appended in the 1970’s during the incumbency of Gov. Jaime Gomez.

The right wing became the office of the governor while the left wing was for the vice governor.

In 1989, under the late Alfredo “Binky” Lamen, Jr. who was then acting governor, the old brick columns at the first floor were changed to concrete but finished with a brick-like design.

The porch at the second floor was also rehabilitated during the term of Gov. MaximoDalog wherein the wooden porch and railings were concreted.