De Venecia: I’ll use oversight function over restoration
UPROAR OVER MACARTHUR BLDG
FOURTH District Rep. Christopher de
Venecia assured close monitoring of the Mac Arthur Building even as he vowed to
use his oversight function as a congressman in the conduct of a hearing, in aid
of legislation, to ensure proper implementation of the law directing the
restoration of the historic building.
De Vencia earlier was perturbed on
receiving initial reports that the building was demolished without consultation
with the Dagupan City government and wants the Department of Education to be
held accountable, if it violated a law, for the “demolition” of the historic headquarters
of American General Douglas Mac Arthur at the compound of West Central
Elementary School here.
De Venecia, one of the authors of House Bill 5577 or the Gabaldon School Buildings Conservation Act that aims to preserve the architectural, historical and social significance of Gabaldon school facilities built from 1907 up to 1946., said his dream is to make the Home Economics Building or popularly known here as the Mac Arthur Building, into a tourist destination and a heritage site.
President Duterte eventually signed Republic Act 11194, known as the Gabaldon School Buildings Conservation Act, on January 18, 2019.
De Venecia learned through a report of Dagupan City Vice Mayor Bryan Kua that the Mac Arthur Building was demolished over the weekend last week. He earlier coordinated with the Dagupan City Council led by Kua to declare the structure used by MacArthur as his headquarters when he and his troops landed on the shores of Dagupan to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese occupation, as a heritage site.
The posts on Facebook about the “demolition” quickly caused an uproar among netizens.
De Venecia said he wants the DepEd to explain and be held liable if it violated laws regarding restoration of heritage houses and Gabaldon buildings. If it warrants, he said he will call for a congressional investigation to find out what happened.
De Venecia learned that the West Central Home Economics building or Mac Arthur Building is a local cultural property, based on Philippine Registry of Cultural Properties. (Philstar Wire Service)
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