Funds sought to save Gabaldon buildings

THIS Gabaldon building at Pampanga High School in the City of San Fernando has been preserved by the Department of Education following an appeal by the Heritage Conservation Society to save it. TONETTE T. OREJAS/INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— Funds for the repair and rehabilitation nationwide of school buildings that are considered heritage structures are being sought after the proposed national budget for next year gave no allocation for the endeavor.

Sen. Loren Legarda, in a text message to the  Inquirer, said she supported the rehabilitation of so-called Gabaldon school buildings after efforts to save the structures, designed by an American architect and built in the early 20th century, received no funding from the government.

“I am checking previous years’ [General Appropriations Acts] if there was ever any budget for the restoration of Gabaldon schools. If none, I will allocate if allowed and supported,” Legarda told the  Inquirer in a text message on Tuesday.

A review of the 2015 proposed budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) on the Department of Budget and Management  website showed no allocation for the rehabilitation of Gabaldon buildings although

the agency has made initial steps for their conservation.

The DepEd has formed a task force on the conservation of heritage school buildings, a program it has undertaken with the Heritage Conservation Society.

It has set guidelines on the implementation of the conservation of Gabaldon and other heritage school buildings.

Legarda has filed Resolution No. 80 urging the Senate to inquire on the status of these efforts.

An Waray  Rep. Victoria Noel filed in July 2013 House Bill No. 1707 appropriating funds for the rehabilitation of Gabaldon buildings.

The Gabaldon-type school building was named after Nueva Ecija assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon, who authored Act No. 1801 through which the Philippine Assembly set aside P1 million between 1907 and 1915 for the “construction of schoolhouses of strong materials in barrios with guaranteed daily attendance of not less than 60 pupils.”

These were built by the Bureau of Architecture and Construction of Public Buildings.

Legarda said the Gabaldon buildings were symbols that Filipinos had access to formal education.

The restoration of these buildings, she said, could “promote the concept of heritage conservation in the provinces.”

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines said the Gabaldon buildings, designed by architect William Parsons, have nine distinct features.

These are single or two-story structures, have elevated ground floors with flooring made of wood planks, large awning windows with capiz panels and wooden frames, and corrugated iron roofs. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon