ILOILO City – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) will conduct periodic site inspection on the ongoing redevelopment of the Iloilo Central Market to ensure compliance with revised plans.
In a letter dated Oct. 30, 2024 addressed to Mayor Jerry Treñas, NHCP chair Regalado Trota Jose Jr. announced that a technical team from the commission’s Historic Preservation Division would check the project to verify adherence to the amended plans.
NHCP’s decision followed a letter from Iloilo City Architect Regina C. Gregorio on Oct. 18, 2024, which forwarded the revised amendatory plans addressing the NHCP Board of Commissioners’ comments communicated on Sept. 24, 2024.
After reviewing the updated plans during a meeting on October 23, 2024, Jose noted that the NHCP Board is “amenable to the revised amendatory plans”, acknowledging that they comply with the commission’s conditions.
These adjustments ensure the old market building’s reconstruction aligns with its historical value while accommodating its new function.
Jose emphasized that the technical team’s inspections would monitor and ensure the project’s faithful implementation in line with heritage conservation standards.
The ongoing redevelopment of the Iloilo Central Market recently gained public attention after Nereo Lujan, a cultural heritage advocate, filed a complaint against Treñas before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
Lujan alleged that Treñas allowed the demolition of the market’s iconic art deco façade without securing proper clearance from the NHCP.
Lujan, who also serves as the chief of the Iloilo Provincial Information and Community Affairs Office (PICAO), accused the mayor of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming, and acts prejudicial to the interest of service.
As part of his complaint, Lujan requested the Ombudsman-Visayas to place Treñas under preventive suspension while the investigation is ongoing.
Treñas has defended the demolition of the Iloilo Central Market’s 80-year-old art deco façade, asserting that no laws were violated in the process. He emphasized that the Office of the Building Official (OBO) issued the demolition permit in accordance with all legal provisions.
“We have followed all provisions of all laws on the matter. We are confident no party has violated any law,” said Treñas.
The demolition is part of a broader public-private partnership with SM Prime Holdings, aimed at modernizing the Iloilo Central Market and the Iloilo Terminal Market while preserving their historical value.
Despite this, the decision has sparked controversy, with critics highlighting the cultural and historical significance of the demolished structure, which symbolized Iloilo City’s rich heritage.
The NHCP designated the Central Market as a Cultural Tourism Heritage Zone in 2013 and a Historic Center in 2014, underscoring its importance through Resolution No. 3.
The redevelopment has raised questions about compliance with Republic Act No. 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which seeks to safeguard the nation’s cultural heritage.
While critics, including Lujan, have accused Treñas of violating heritage conservation laws, the mayor maintained that the redevelopment plan aligns with urban modernization goals and legal requirements./PN
