Spat with Rama over CBRT: 3 lawmakers support Gwen

CEBU, Philippines — At least three congressmen in Cebu have expressed their support for Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia over the issue on the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT).

Ako Bisaya partylist Congressman Sonny Lagon, 6th district Congresswoman Daphne Lagon, and 7th district Congressman Peter John Calderon said they are supporting the governor's move to protect the neoclassical and art deco structures that is part of Cebu's history.

Garcia has ordered the stoppage of the civil works of the CBRT along Osmeña Blvd. as they fall within the buffer zone of the Cebu Capitol building, which is considered a national landmark.

Daphne said the encroachment of the construction of the said project "can potentially violate several laws on protecting and preserving heritage properties."

"The non-observance of law may lead to the destruction of historic structures that will deprive the Cebuanos of their sense of identity through these edifices that reflect Cebu's history and culture," read part of the congresswoman's statement.

“The ongoing construction of the CBRT have encroached portions of the buffer zones of the Cebu Provincial Capitol and Fuente Osmena circle which can potentially violate several laws on protecting and preserving heritage properties,” she added.

Daphne cited that the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which states that “structures dating at least fifty years old are considered important cultural property and are thus to be protected from exportation, modification or demolition.”

The Capitol building, she said, is a National Historical Landmark that possesses Grade 1 Level Heritage Structure classification, which means that stricter protection measures in preserving it should be observed.

She said the Capitol is one of the last surviving Neoclassical and Art Deco structures in Cebu, having been built during the American occupation in the 1930s, and thus needs to be preserved and protected for future generations.

Sonny, on the other hand, said he is acting on the need to respect and preserve the culture of the Cebuanos

"I, in my capacity as representative of the Ako Bisaya partylist, tender my unwavering and unequivocal support to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and all her efforts to ensure strict compliance of the law, preserve and protect cultural properties that define the history of Cebu as we all as the heritage and identity of the Cebuanos," read part of his March 24 statement.

Calderon, for his part, called for the dismissal of the administrative case Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama filed against the governor before the Office of the President.

 "It is appalling that the law and legal remedies are being used (and abused) to diminish and destroy the Capitol's universal and cultural value. Clearly, the administrative case filed against Gov Garcia is frivolous, at the very least, and must be dismissed immediately," he said.

Rama filed an administrative case against Garcia for allegedly usurping judicial and/or quasi-judicial powers over the CBRT.

He also requested that the President suspend Garcia pending the resolution of his complaint.

Garcia last month issued a cease and desist order to the proponents of CBRT because the project, particular the bus station that was being built right at the front of the Capitol building, blocks the view of its façade and is against heritage laws that mandate the protection of such structures.

Rama, though, took exception of her “meddling” and brought their conflict to the attention of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.