The “Heritage City of the South” in Cebu and once known as Tuanong in Ilocos Sur are now heritage sites.
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law declaring two new heritage zones in Cebu and Ilocos Sur.
Republic Act 11644, the Carcar City Heritage Zone Act “to conserve, develop, promote, and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage,” as the Constitution mandates.
The Department of Tourism, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the local governments will work together to prepare the development plans for the two locations.
Carcar City is called the “Heritage City of the South” which was discovered to already be a thriving community even before the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan.
“This is affirmed by the discovery of an ancient burial site dating to 6700 – 3000 BC (Neolithic Era) in the barangays of Napo, and Ocana in Carcar by Archaeologist Rosa Tenazans.”
Additionally, an expedition of 1922-1924 excavated ceramic pieces from the time of the Sung Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty in Valencia, Carcar that proved that the Philippines have been trading with China between 618 – 906 AD.
Other documents also showed how Carcar had one of the biggest Augustinian parishes in the Visayas, how the city joined the Philippine Revolution and more that shows how important the city is to tell the history of the Philippines.
Duterte also signed RA 11645 to establish a heritage zone within the municipality of San Vicente, Ilocos Sur “in order to protect the historical integrity of the area.”
According to the municipality’s website, San Vicente was established when Franciscan friars spread up from Vigan to convert and influence people.
The municipality, which was then called Tuanong (or Taonan)name came from the name of Saint Vincent Ferrer, whose winged statue was found inside a box entangled in fishing nets.
The measures will take effect 15 days after their publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation, which was on January 17.
Tags: #cebucity, #prrd, #heritagesites, #ilocossur, #carcarcity, #sanvicente