Heritage groups appeal to preserve trees, houses
ASIDE from the century-old trees, public works officials have to deal with owners of heritage houses that stand in the way of the 20 km road-widening project from Naga City to Carcar City.
While a line of heritage houses in Carcar City is spared from the road widening project, the fate of two houses built over a hundred years ago along with 25 century-old trees still hang in the balance.
“It’s just very sad because roads are very important especially to spur development in the south. It should be negotiated. We understand, but we should count the cost,” said Gavin Bagares, a history writer.
In the next town of San Fernando, municipal engineer Simeon Lauronal said it’s better to just cut the trees to pave way for the road development in their town.
“We hope the National Heritage Commission will allow us to cut down the trees and just replace them with another because it has encroached the 20-meter wide reserved for a national highway,” Lauronal said.
He said he’s unaware of any heritage houses within the town’s roadside.
Two houses in Naga and San Fernando town are reportedly affected by the road-widening project.
The Alfeche ancestral house in San Isidro, San Fernando town was built in 1898 has been passed down three generations, 85-year old Marcela Tapere told Cebu Daily News.
Marcela, granddaughter-in-law of the original owner Isabelo Alfeche, said she was sad about the fate of their home that was built with hardwood and wooden nails.
She said her husband’s family lived there for more than a hundred years.
“I feel very sad. I gave birth to all my nine kids here. But if the government will use the property then we can’t do anything about it as long as the government gives us the right compensation,” she said.
The Spanish-era house didn’t undergo any major renovation except for some minor repairs in the ceiling and part of the interior walls.
The house features large open windows and carved designs in its outside walls.
Marcela said their house was used by former Cebu governor Vicente Rama Jr. as a meeting place with other Cebu provincial officials.
It is not as popular as the Balay nga Bato (coral stone house) in Naga City that was built in 1897.
Heritage advocates like Bagares, who work for the heritage advocacy group Hambin, said the government should make every effort to spare the heritage houses and trees from the road widening project.
Trizer Mansueto, another heritage advocate and historian, said DPWH should have considered other venues to preserve the trees and the houses.
“I am sad about the loss of those trees. Those trees don’t only contribute to a balanced eco-system but because they’ve been there for a long time and head been a part of people’s memory,” Mansueto said.
Mansueto also said the houses are “irreplaceable” and should be preserved “since we don’t have much of those left.”
Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district, proponent of the road project, sought for the preservation of the houses and trees.
But Carcar City Engr. Santiago Calinawan Jr. and DPWH 2nd Engineering District Officer Daisy Toledo told them that the trees can either be cut or the road skirted in the widening project.
Earth balling the trees was not discussed since there is a council resolution that protects their line of trees considering its historical value, Calinawan said.
The trees along the south road were planted sometime in 1915 during the time of former governor Dionisio Jakosalem, grandfather of former Cebu City councilor Sylvan Jakosalem.
