5th Annual Conference on Philippine Towns & Cities

The Provincial Government of Bulacan and City Government of Malolos, in collaboration with Heritage Conservation Society (HCS), Bulacan HCS Chapter, Urban Partnerships Foundation (UPF) and the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP), is organizing the 5th Annual Conference on Philippine Towns & Cities, November 5 to 6, 2010 at the Hiyas Pavillion, Bulacan Provincial Capitol, MacArthur Highway, Malolos, Bulacan.

PTC aims to enhance civic engagement with local governments units in order to inform and guide the LGUs on the proper care and utilization of a valuable asset — built heritage resources.

Highlights this year include a briefing on the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 (RA 10066), lecture & training on cultural mapping, heritage identification & documentation, the Lakbay Republika ng Malolos Heritage Tour and experience riding on a Karatig jeep, Bulacan Artists Art Exhibit launch, photo exhibit of bridges, Art Deco buildings & lighthouses, cultural presentation of Bulacan's Lakan Sining and case studies of selected Philippine towns & cities namely Malolos, Bulacan; Sta. Ana, Manila; Hagonoy, Bulacan & Antipolo, Rizal.

For more information, contact Dorie Soriano or Luz Regalado of the Heritage Conservation Society at (02) 5466367, (02) 3534494, (0917) 8668853, (0906) 2625631 or e-mail http://us.mc768.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=hcs_secretariat@yahoo.com; Rheeza Hernandez (Bulacan HCS) at http://us.mc768.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bul_heritage_conservation@yahoo.com, (0915) 4339438; or Arch. Osie Alfonso (Bulacan HCS) at bal2004@yahoo.com, (0917) 909768 or (02) 2380887.

The first PTC was held November 8, 2006 at the Development Academy of the Philippines, Pasig City; followed by the second conference on November 9, 2007 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Iloilo City; third conference on November 8, 2008 in Zamboanga City; and fourth conference at Heroes Hall, City of San Fernando, Pampanga on November 6-7, 2009.

In our towns and cities, wanton real estate speculation and over-construction are often mistaken for modernization when in fact these exert devastating pressure on the historic and cultural core of many of our human settlements. As a result, a valuable economic resource – built heritage — is left to deteriorate or is thoughtlessly demolished in the name of progress. Concerted effort is imperative to protect heritage resources because these are revenue and job-generating assets that can spark economic revitalization, as the case of Vigan clearly shows.

However, there is a general lack of awareness at the local government level, which is precisely where policies should be formulated and ordinances passed to declare heritage districts and protect these as the town’s or city’s prime assets. Built heritage resources should be the core of any master plan for urban development and inner town/city revitalization. Livelihood opportunities are generated by adaptive re-use, the revival of traditional crafts for restoration work and an increase in tourism receipts.

Significantly, communities begin to feel a pride of place.

The Philippine Towns and Cities Conference is a communications campaign to influence policy makers at the local government level. Through the “Mayors’ Forum”, best practices are shared. Other stakeholders in government, the private sector and the academe are invited to participate because heritage conservation is a multi-disciplinary concern.