The municipal councils on the history and cultural heritage of local government units in Antique province are encouraged to submit written materials about statues, landmarks, and sites in their areas with historical and cultural significance as bases in declaring them important historical and cultural properties.

Once declared important historical and cultural properties, a marker will be installed to ensure they are protected and preserved.

“We need to pass ordinances declaring statues, landmarks, and sites as important historical and cultural properties so we could install markers for their protection and conservation,” said Provincial Board Member Dante Beriong, the vice chairperson of the Committee on History and Cultural Heritage, in an interview, Thursday.

During their regular session on Sept. 9, the provincial board passed an ordinance mandating the installation of markers for important cultural properties.

The installation of historical markers is necessary for the awareness of building officials, project engineers, and implementing offices before they propose construction, renovation, modification, retrofitting, or demolition activities that may affect the integrity of local historical landmarks, monuments, and shrines.

“Removal of the installed historical marker has a penalty clause of PHP5,000 fine and/or six-month imprisonment, at the discretion of the court, for any person, group, or corporation,” he said.

There is also a penalty against those who damage, destroy, or deface the installed marker.

Beriong said only a few statues, landmarks, and sites in Antique have markers installed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) or the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, including the Calixto Zaldivar Bust at the Hall of Justice and Evelio B. Javier statue in this capital town.

The provincial ordinance, he said, will make sure they are protected since they have no installed marker from concerned national government agencies. (PNA)