Abono seeks House probe
BCS TRANSFER CONTROVERSY
BAYAMBANG— To help settle the controversy surrounding the planned permanent transfer of the Bayambang Central School (BCS) from its original site in Poblacion to Barangay Bical, a resolution calling for an investigation, in aid of legislation, was filed before the House of Representatives on the propriety and legality of the transfer last Wednesday, Nov. 19.
House Resolution Number 1669 authored by Abono party-list Rep. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III cited the municipal resolution passed on August 27, 2013 authorizing Mayor Ricardo Camacho to enter into a deed of exchange with a certain Willy Chua for the transfer and relocation of the school.
Ortega said that if the town resolution is implemented, it “may be in violation of the provisions of RA 10066, as it will effectively cause the modification and/or demolition of the Gabaldon School Buildings of BCS”.
Ortega wants the appropriate committee to revisit existing laws that define, determine and protect “important cultural properties”, such as the Gabaldon School Buildings, and introduce amendments and/or modifications thereto, if necessary.
He also asked the House committee to undertake remedial measures so as not to render any outcome of the investigation moot and academic.
The mayor earlier said in interviews that he welcomes a congressional probe, saying he is ready to answer the accusations against him.
Presently, the school’s pupils and teachers are occupying Chua’s two-hectare property where new a school building with facilities have been constructed ostensibly in exchange for the prime lot of three hectares old location of the school.
The local government unit used problems on flooding and dengue incidents in the old school site as the bases for the transfer.
The BCS is composed of Gabaldon buildings built in 1921 designed by American Architect William Parsons.
“Republic Act No. 10066 explicitly considers Gabaldon School buildings to be important cultural properties, which need to be protected, conserved and/or restored, in order to preserve the cultural heritage of the area, where the said school buildings are located,” Ortega’s resolution said.
It added that section 32 (d) thereof mandates that the Department of Education shall be responsible for the conservation and restoration of Gabaldon School Buildings. – (Tita R. Roces)
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