The Philippines celebrates its unique culture one step at a time, with Local Heritage Zones sprinkled throughout the country. These zones protect and store precious artifacts that are tangible reminders of our national identity and allow us to safeguard history for future generations! Although the number may be small, it’s a great beginning!
Now, it’s time to bone up on local history – this comprehensive list of ordinances in heritage zones across the Philippines has all you need! It’ll be a blast from the past as you explore preservation and development policies for some of this nation’s most important sites.
Angeles City Heritage Zone: Ordinance No.378, S-2015 With Amendment Ordinance No. 386, S-2016, An ordinance Declaring the Angeles City Heritage Zone and Its Administration, Defining its Functions and For Other Purposes.
Barili, Cebu: Municipal Ordinance No. 04-06-01, s. 2006 – Declaring Certain Shrines, Houses, Buildings, Monuments, Markers, and Other Areas as Cultural Properties of the Municipality
Bohol: Provincial Ordinance No. 2008-2 – Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage Code
Ilocos Norte: Provincial Ordinance No. 039-2009 – Imposing Moratorium in the Conversion of Use and Demolition of Structures Deemed as Part of the Cultural and Historical Heritage of Ilocos Norte
Iloilo City: City Ordinance No. 00-054 – Declaring Certain Building Structures or Sites in Iloilo City as Local Heritage and CBD Heritage Building Catalgoue
Iloilo City: Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Downtown CBD Heritage Zone
Manila City Ordinance No. 8385 – Exempting Certain Properties from Basic Real Property and Special Education Fund Taxes
Naga City: City Ordinance No. 2003-003 – Creating a Task Force for the Preservation and Restoration of all Historical and Cultural Buildings and Structures in the City of Naga
Panay, Capiz: Municipal Ordinance No. 07-08 – Creating the Panay Heritage Zone and its Governing Body
San Fernando, Pampanga: City Ordinance No. 2004-003 – Creating the City of San Fernando Heritage District and its Governing Body
Silay City, Negros Occidental: City Ordinance No. 2, Series of 2014 – Creating the Silay Heritage District
Taal, Batangas: Municipal Ordinance No. 3, s. 2009 – Heritage Conservation, Preservation, and Restoration Code of 2009
One notable locality is Intramuros. According to Rancho Arcilla, “Intramuros in Manila is the only locality in the Philippines where, for cultural reasons, the use, height, scale, and aesthetics of all new constructions and development are pre-determined and strictly regulated under the force of national law. Other heritage sites only have “ordinances.”
Here are Intramuros’ architectural rules and regulations and rules and regulations complemented by the Register of Styles.
Have you stumbled upon any other heritage laws in the Philippines? Share your insights with us by dropping a comment! Let’s get this conversation going.
Special Thanks to The Heritage Conservation Society for this initial list.