United Architects of the Philippines Bacolod Azucar Chapter, together with UP College of Architecture and the office of ARC LICO held a 2-day seminar on The Fundamentals of Conservation Management Planning on November 29 and 30, at the Acacia Hotel Bacolod, Bacolod City.
Led by Ar. Gerard Rey Lico, PhD, FUAP, a specialist and consultant in Heritage Conservation, the seminar attracted 90 participants, primarily architects from Bacolod City, who gained a thorough understanding of conservation management planning.
The program combined lectures with on-site assessments, enabling attendees to learn the crucial steps for developing and implementing effective conservation management plans applicable to various projects in Bacolod City.
On the first day, participants listened to the lecture of Lico and were organized into groups and visited the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod, where they engaged in hands-on activities to gather information for a comprehensive management plan. This included site documentation and an analysis of potential conservation strategies.
The second day involved a trip to Silay City, where participants applied their acquired knowledge to assess The Gerardo Sigaton Gaston Ancestral House. They compared conservation policies and identified common strategies and approaches. The custodians and stakeholders of the ancestral house were enthusiastic about the participants’ insights, as they are also seeking guidance on how to initiate restoration efforts for their heritage site.
The seminar concluded with each group presenting their drafted conservation management plans, which will be submitted to the stakeholders as part of the seminar’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.
Joining Lico at the seminar was Solomon Locsin, the current Chairman of the Negros Occidental Historical Council. He delivered a one-hour presentation focused on the historical and cultural context of Negros Occidental.*
