Casa Real P50-M restoration begins
LINGAYEN– Finally. The restoration of the Casa Real heritage site will begin Monday, September 29, following the groundbreaking ceremony last week.
“The very first person who will be pleased by this restoration project will be the governor at that time because Casa Real was the official office of the governor during the Spanish era, said Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. during the ground breaking.
The initial funding for the construction of the building foundation will come from the provincial government to jumpstart the restoration work, but 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, disclosed that P30-million fund has been included under the General Appropriations Bill of 2015 for the project and will be available January 2015.
The budget allocation for its restoration was made possible through the representation of the Department of Tourism under the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
“I was inspired by Governor Espino’s vision to restore what we have historically and culturally,” said Bataoil.
“We were able to lobby for this… but of course it is not enough because it is not only the building, but also the vicinity, to have a complete restoration and that is more than one hectare property,” Bataoil said.
Based on estimates by engineers, architects and historical restorers, it would cost more than P50-million for full restoration of the property, he said.
Bataoil said he will work out additional funds in the 2016 national budget. “Whatever is the balance, we will work it out come 2016 budget because I’m the vice chairman of Committee on Appropriations,” he said.
Today’s past, tomorrow.
Casa Real, located beside the Lingayen Municipal Hall and Provincial Jail, was originally built during Spanish-era that served as seat of the provincial capital until the new Capitol Building, located at its present location in the Lingayen beachfront, was completed in 1918.
It was constructed in 1840s as a royal house where the alcalde mayor resided and held office as the provincial governor and the judge of the Court of First Instance. It also became the station of the Spanish soldiers and their native recruits who helped fight the Katipuneros during the revolutionary war against the Spanish rule.
Casa Real was declared a national historical landmark by the National Historical Institute on March 13, 2002, for its historical significance as well as its architectural significance as an “outstanding and unique example of civic architecture from the Spanish and American colonial periods.”
The structure suffered major damages at the height of Typhoon Cosme in 2008.
Once the restoration gets completed, it will house the provincial museum that will archive old books, documents, artifacts, archaeological relics and other materials of historical and cultural value.
It was the Pangasinan Historical and Cultural Commission that initially endorsed a plan to restore and preserve the design of Casa Real.
Espino, Bataoil, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr, lawyer Gonzalo Duque who is the chairman of the Pangasinan Historical and Cultural Commission, were among those who led the groundbreaking rites for the restoration work. (Tita Roces/Johanne R. Macob/PIO)
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