Alarm raised on coming fiesta perya at grounds of two Spanish-era buildings

An alarm has been raised on the possible danger to the structural and architectural integrity of the two Spanish-era building ruins with grounds along Peñafrancia Avenue in barangay San Francisco, Naga City, recently declared to be Important Cultural Properties (ICPs), arising from  a «perya» or carnival already in the process of being set up close to those buildings on those grounds for the coming  Peñafrancia Fiesta.

Seven Naga City cultural, historical and architectural heritage groups raised this alarm in a letter dated last July 15 to City Mayor Nelson S. Legacion seeking his immediate action on the matter,  copy furnished other concerned city government officials as well  the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and private land owner Nagaland Development Corporation of Atty. William T. Enrile.  

These seven heritage groups, namely the Nueva Caceres Heritage Movement, Inc. (NCHMI), the Sumaro Bikolnon, the United Architects of the Philippines Camarines Chapter (UAP Camarines), the Parasurat Bikolnon, the Naga City Arts and Culture Coalition (NCACC), the Kabulig Bikol, Inc., and the Saysay Bikol, had succesfully worked for the final passage last June of Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 2024-264 “declaring the two Spanish-era stone buildings as ICPs as they hold local, historical, socio-cultural and architectural significance and therefore are invaluable part of the city’s rich cultural heitage and history.”  

The heritage group’s letter pointed out that activities in a carnival, which produce a multitude of mechanical movements and heavy machinery operations, may result in soil vibrations that may affect the structural integrity of the two old stone buildings. The constant pounding of metals and heavy occupant load of the carnival rides may pose structural danger to the buildings, especially that no intervention yet as to structural soundness has been introduced to the buildings nor to the site.

The fiesta carnival will attract numerous people and activities which require regulations as to the observance of a buffer zone for the two old stone buildings. The exposure of these buildings to people without educating them or establishing rules on how to use the site may further aggravate their present deteriorating condition. Activities such as vandalism, loitering, micturition, petty theft of parts of the buildings, and other unwanted human activities may cause harm to the buildings.

The establishment of a five (5) meters buffer zone for the two stone buildings is mandated under Section 48(b) of R.A. No. 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009), as amended by R.A. No.  11961. Moreover, there is a standing Cease and Desist Order (CDO) issued by the NHCP in November 2022 under Sec. 25 of R.A. No. 10066 (now Sec. 28 of R.A. No. 11961) to Atty. Enrile/ Nagaland Development Corporation to “suspend all activities involving the demolition of the said built-heritage.”  A CDO also standardly  requires the local government unit to adopt measures to secure the integrity of the immovable property subject of the order.  Thus:

“Power to Issue a Cease and Desist Order. - When the physical integrity of the national cultural treasures or important cultural properties are found to be in danger of destruction or significant alteration from its original state, the appropriate cultural agency shall immediately issue a Cease and Desist Order ex parte suspending all activities that will affect the cultural property. The local government unit which has the jurisdiction over the site where the immovable cultural property is located shall report the same to the appropriate cultural agency immediately upon discovery and shall promptly adopt measures to secure the integrity of such immovable cultural property. Thereafter, the appropriate cultural agency shall give notice to the owner or occupant of the cultural property and conduct hearing on the propriety of the issuance of the Cease and Desist Order. The suspension of the activities shall be lifted only upon the written authority of the appropriate cultural agency after due notice and hearing involving interested parties and stakeholders.”

Aside from the current fiesta carnival site concern, the heritage groups expressed concern in case of whatever construction and real estate development plan works by the private land owner in the immediate vicinity of the two old stone buildings, especially when deep excavations and piling works are done with the use of heavy equipment.

To date, these are the urgent concerns for the preservation of the two old stone buildings which only require regulation and without the need for a considerable financial outlay.  But there are equally important longer-term conservation concerns that need to be addressed which however require sufficient funding, such as for a professionally-prepared Conservation Management Plan (CMP).  

The heritage groups propose that all these concerns, immediate as well as longer-term, would be best addressed in an exploratory dialogue among the private land owner, the City Government of Naga, the NHCP, and the heritage stakeholders, hopefully in the very near future. 

In the meantime, the immediate concerns raised by the heritage groups, especially regarding the fiesta carnival at the two old stone buildings’ heritage site, require some prompt and effectve action from the city government, such as  1)  reconsideration of the permit to operate a carnival at that heritage site;  2) establishment of a buffer zone for the two buildings, and 3) strict scrutiny of construction permits in the heritage site’s vicinity.

As of this writing Tuesday August 6, however, the heritage groups have not received any response nor seen any action from the city government on the said immediate concerns.  Instead, what can be seen at ground zero of the heritage site are carnival fixtures and materials placed on or very close to the walls of the two Spanish-era building ruins -- thereby endangering them with further ruin.