THE RECENT findings of the Office of the Building Official (OBO) should alarm every Ilonggo who takes pride in Iloilo City’s rich architectural legacy. Out of 80 heritage structures inspected in the downtown area, six were declared unsafe — and one, the Locsin-Coscolluela building at the corner of Ledesma and Iznart streets, was deemed in urgent need of retrofitting.
For years, this particular building has stood as both a landmark and a warning. Once an elegant emblem of pre-war commerce, it now shows clear signs of decay — crumbling concrete, broken glass, and weeds growing from its rooftop. Authorities had already recommended repairs years ago, long before the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that shook the Visayas on September 30. Yet, like many other old buildings in the city, the warnings went unheeded.
This is the true cost of neglect. It is not only the slow erosion of our heritage — it is the risk to human life. When pieces of falling debris threaten pedestrians, when structural cracks are ignored despite repeated inspections, when official recommendations are ignored, the city itself becomes complicit in the gradual destruction of its cultural identity.
Heritage conservation in Iloilo cannot survive on sentiment alone. It demands consistent action, financial commitment, and accountability from both the public and private sectors. Government agencies, particularly the OBO and the City Engineer’s Office, must go beyond issuing advisories. There must be clear mechanisms to compel compliance — whether through stricter enforcement of safety standards, mandatory retrofitting timelines, or penalties for inaction.
At the same time, building owners must recognize that preservation is a civic duty, not a burden. The city’s heritage district is more than a collection of old structures — it is a living testament to Iloilo’s place in Philippine history. To allow it to crumble from neglect is to betray that legacy. Incentives such as tax relief or access to restoration grants can encourage cooperation, but responsibility cannot be outsourced.
As OBO head Engr. Mavi Gustilo aptly warned, “Preservation must go hand-in-hand with safety.” Age alone is not the problem; it is indifference that kills heritage. The earthquake has only magnified what years of inaction have already set in motion.
If Iloilo truly wishes to sustain its image as the “City of Love” and a bastion of heritage, it must start by loving its own history enough to protect it. The time to act is not after the next tremor — it is now, before another piece of the city’s soul turns to dust.
