Forgotten watch tower needs major restoration

ROXAS CITY—Centuries-old watch towers in this city that used to stand guard against invaders are in danger of literally being buried and forgotten by Capiceños.

The watch towers in the villages of Dumolog and Culasi are covered with overgrowth and soil with only portions of the towers visible. Some parts of the structures have already been destroyed by natural elements.

The towers were believed to be have been built by the Spanish authorities sometime in the 18th or 19th century as a defense against Moro and Portuguese marauders. It stood as high as 20 feet according to various accounts.

The late Western Visayas historian Henry Funtecha wrote that watch towers were built especially along the coastal areas of Panay Island after the expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi moved from Cebu to Panay in 1569.

Funtecha said the expedition forces established the first Spanish settlement in the town of Pan-ay in Capiz. It was used as a base to further explore and occupy northern Panay.

According to Funtecha, the Spanish colonizers had to deal with continued threats from Moro and Portuguese attacks aside from the fierce resistance of the Panay natives. This is why watch towers were built in many areas including in Capiz and in the coastal towns of southern Iloilo.

Sergie Catalan, 29, a resident of Barangay Dumolog said residents and tourists used to go the watch tower on top of the cliff overlooking the Culasi Bay. But through the years, few have gone to the area.

Bryan Argos, acting city tourism officer, said many Capiceños especially the young were unaware of the watch towers and their historical significance.

He said the watch towers would require major restoration work that would be beyond the capacity of the tourism office.

“We would need assistance from the National Historical Institute because we lack the skills and resources,” Argos said.

Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, who also chairs the city council’s committee on tourism, said the watch towers were the historical sites and landmarks being prioritized by the city government.

But he said the city government still has to acquire a right of way to the watch tower in Barangay Culasi because it is situated on a private lot.

“We cannot readily conduct restoration work because we need to get permission from the owner,” Dadivas said.

The watch tower in Barangay Dumolog is on public land but is hidden from view because the area is populated by informal settlers.

Dadivas said they would need to relocate the settlers to make the watch towers accessible especially to tourists.