City Seeks to Lift NCCA’s Cease and Desist Order
June 13, 2015
BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan disclosed in his weekly forum last Wednesday that the city will file a motion for reconsideration to the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to lift the cease and desist order issued to the city last June 3.
Domogan pointed out that the cease and desist order issued by the NCCA has no basis.
He pointed out that in the cease and desist order of NCCA, it was stated that “Baguio City Hall is a built heritage/marked structure classified as a considered/presumed Important Cultural Property (PICP), pursuant to section 5(e) of Republic Act 10066, otherwise known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, and categorized as Grade III Cultural Property pursuant to section 7.1 of the implementing rules and regulations of RA 10066.”
Thus, the NCCA acknowledged that it is only the city hall building that was marked, thus, the improvement of the city hall ground is outside the marked heritage site, stressed the mayor.
Moreover, in response to the contention of the NCCA citing section 48(b) of the RA 10066, Domogan emphasized that the improvement of the city hall grounds project will not in any way cause obstruction on the view of the government building, but, instead, the city is beautifying, enhancing, protecting and securing the city hall as well as ensuring the architectural integrity of the city hall building.
Also, the city hall building was only marked historical site in 2009 but it was not formally declared and classified/identified as historical site. What was marked and declared as historical site in the city of Baguio is the Mansion House, added the mayor.
Domogan is wondering why the NCCA issued the said order considering that there was never any verbal or written complaint received by the city coming from the NCCA.
The construction work and beautification of the city hall premises has stopped last week because of the cease and desist order.
Domogan is hopeful that the NCCA will take into consideration the lifting of the cease and desist order so as the project of the city in improving the city hall grounds will resume./Jho Arranz
