EDITORIAL - Resource center must conform to heritage site’s sacredness

The Cebu provincial government remains firm that it has complied with the requirements set by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) over its plan to establish a high-rise building at the Capitol compound.

It said it already submitted the development plan to the commission and has conducted a public hearing on the project. These are just two of the requirements outlined by the NHCP after the provincial government sent a letter to the commission for the latter’s opinion.

Let us clarify that the commission is not opposing the project. However, there is just one issue that the NHCP wants to settle with the Capitol. The height of the building, called the Provincial Resource Center, is at least 20 stories, a thing which does not sit well with the commission.

The NHCP wants the provincial government to change the height of the building because it “is too high that it will distort the balance and symmetry of the old Capitol.” There’s no word yet from the Capitol about it. But Oscar Pineda, the province’s focal person for the project, explained that if viewed from Osmeña Boulevard, the center will not hamper the view of the Capitol building.

There’s no question about the project’s importance. The Capitol is really in need of more edifices to house some of its offices since many structures in the compound are no longer serviceable. But it should see to it that every requirement outlined by the NHCP must be followed.

When the commission pointed out its concern that the project’s height will only alter the balance and symmetry of the Capitol building, there was no word from the province whether it will act on it with only Pineda saying the center will not alter the view of the Capitol building.

The province has no other choice but to follow the commission regarding the height of the project. The bigger issue here is not about whether or not the resource center will affect the general view of the Capitol but on the need for the project to conform to the sacredness of the entire heritage site.