NHCP surveys heritage sites in Cebu

The Historic Preservation Division of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has conducted surveys and documentation across heritage sites in Barili, Naga City, and Toledo City in a bid to further safeguard Cebu’s cultural legacy.

- Caecent No-ot Magsumbol/FPL

The initiative followed formal requests for NHCP historical markers and complements Cebu’s broader heritage landscape, which includes some of the country’s most storied landmarks.

The site inspections coincided with NHCP’s other heritage-centered activity in Cebu—the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Formulation of the National Guidelines and Principles for the Conservation of Built Heritage held last week.

The FGD brought together heritage professionals, architects, planners, and local stakeholders to refine national standards for preserving built heritage. It opened with a curated heritage tour around Cebu City, highlighting key landmarks.

For the survey proper, NHCP personnel visited the Hospicio de San Jose in Barili, a pioneering institution founded in 1925 through the endowment of philanthropists Pedro and Benigna Cui.