Garcia warns PB on P1.3B building

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Third District Representative Gwendolyn Garcia is warning Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and all the members of the Cebu Provincial Board against pushing through with the construction of a new building beside the Capitol without approval from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

In a letter addressed to Magpale, Garcia described the insistence of the Capitol officials to build the P1.3 billion resource center as an “illegal scheme.” Garcia also furnished all PB members a copy of her letter dated December 12.

“Your desistance from being made a participant in this illegal scheme would not only protect you from prosecution under heritage and graft laws, but would preserve the independence and dignity of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” Garcia wrote.

Section 48 B of the Heritage Act states as among the prohibited acts: “Modifies, alters, or destroys the original features of or undertakes construction or real estate development in any national shrine, monument, landmark and other historic edifices and structures, declared, classified, and marked by the National Historical Institute as such, without the prior written permission from the Commission. This includes the designated security or buffer zone, extending five (5) meters from the visible perimeter of the monument or site.”

“So clearly, it is not five meters from the building, but five meters from the perimeter,” Garcia said.

Garcia also furnished Magpale and the PB members a copy of the communication sent less than a month ago by NHCP chairman Dr. Rene Escalante to Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino.

Escalante last November 19 reminded Tolentino of the NHCP’s stand that a new development plan should be submitted to their office. Escalante also invoked the agency’s earlier warning for the Capitol “not to undertake any work or changes in the area until we approve of the development plan.”

“Up to now, we have not received the new development plan that we requested. While we did not set a deadline for such submission, we would have appreciated a reply to our letter, based on Section 5 of R.A. No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), which sets a period of fifteen working days to respond to letters…,” stated Escalante.

“We are making this reminder in light of a report that the Provincial Government has proceeded with the public bidding for the project,” added the NHCP Chairman in his letter to Tolentino, citing that the NHCP sent the letter recommendation to Capitol on March 2, 2017 yet, or 20 months ago.

Garcia said that NHCP obviously made it clear that the Province of Cebu was not to undertake any work or changes in the area until NHCP approves the development plan.

“We trust that having been put on notice of this material deficiency and clear violation of our heritage laws, you will proceed with abundant caution on the executive department’s request for you to cooperate in this illegal scheme by approving the contract with the supposed winner of the rushed bidding of this project,” Garcia stated in her letter to the Capitol’s legislators.

The Capitol officials clarified that there is no need for them to present a new development plan for the 20-story resource center as agreed in an earlier meeting with the NHCP.

“The Provincial Planning and Development Office has a summary report of this meeting, which states the arrangements we have arrived at with NHCP, as well as a summary on why a new development plan is not necessary,” Tolentino said.

“It is not true that we did not respond to the NHCP letter dated March 2, 2017. In fact, we sent a team composed of our officers and design consultants to personally meet with NHCP last April 10. In that meeting, our team presented to the NHCP our position and answers to their concerns,” he added. (FREEMAN)