Conservation plan for Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag eyed
AS NATIONAL CULTURAL TREASURE
LINGAYEN— In view of the increasing number of tourists at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag in Manaoag town, the preparation of a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the Minor Basilica is being planned.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, led a multi-sectoral consultative meeting for the preparation of the CMP and the completion of the Manaoag’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) to address the issues affected by growing tourist arrivals in the area.
Provincial Tourism Officer Ma. Luisa Elduayan said the meeting addressed the worsening traffic, lack of parking spaces, and transportation services as among concerns of tourists visiting the Minor Basilica.
The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag, was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines on December 23, 2015.
Granted the same title were the “Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and movable and intangible properties intrinsic to the cultural significance of the property.”
A National Cultural Treasure pertains to a “unique cultural property found locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic, and/or scientific value which is highly significant and important to the country and nation.”
According to Elduayan, the Minor Basilica management hired consultants from the University of Santo Tomas Center for Conservation of Cultural Properties to craft the CMP with the help of the various stakeholders.
As a National Cultural Treasure, all improvements on infrastructure or landscape in the Minor Basilica must now be approved by the National Museum.
During the meeting, Manaoag Mayor Kim Amador gave the assurance that plans to improve their traffic system and reception of guests are all in place.
The consultative meeting was also attended by the Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., Fourth District Rep. Gina De Venecia with son Toff De Venecia, and representatives from the police. (Johanne Macob)
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