LOCAL HERITAGE ENTHUSIASTS AND CONSERVATIONISTS COMMIT TO PROTECT RECOGNIZED ANCESTRAL HOUSE
By: La Union Provincial Tourism Office | Photos By: La Union Provincial Tourism Office | Date: January 21, 2020
In an attempt to safeguard the Lopez Ancestral House in Brgy. Antonino, Balaoan, La Union from the road widening project that will affect the front extension of the house’s ground floor, representatives from the Provincial Government of La Union - La Union Provincial Tourism Office (PGLU-LUPTO), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) La Union First Engineering District Office, and Local Government Unit (LGU) of Balaoan inspected the said structure on January 21, 2020.
The joint inspection comes after the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) attested the house’s cultural and historical significance through a letter dated November 20, 2020 recommending the structure's protection from any modification or demolition. The agency, however, cannot ascertain if its extension is part of the original house structure.
The provisions of Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 and the DPWH Department Order No. 12-2019 ensure the protection and preservation of cultural and historical sites before the conduct of any construction, renovation, retrofitting or demolition activity directly or indirectly affecting them.
LGU Balaoan is currently coordinating with the relatives and claimants of the said ancestral house. According to Balaoan Municipal Engineer Renato Opeña, an ongoing ownership case is being heard by a local court after the house was allegedly sold to another owner. LGU Balaoan hopes for the settlement of the claimants’ dispute as soon as possible since the road widening project should be accomplished this February 2021.
PGLU-LUPTO teams up with local conservationists to further verify the originality of the house extension, which will be communicated to and confirmed by NHCP. New detailed photographs are being examined after testimonies from old folks in the area claim that an extension is indeed part of the original architectural features. The Lopez family further claims that the house was once used as the town’s administrative center many years ago. The recommendations from the involved parties, especially that of NHCP shall be DPWH’s basis for executing the road widening in front of the Lopez Ancestral House.
As a focus strategy of LUPTO in support of the re-calibrated PGLU’s Strategic Roadmap to a Stronger La Union- the preservation of significant #TatakLUCAL heritage shall cultivate an awareness of our Province #EndowedAndProud of #LaUnionCultureArtsandLanguage.
