• ANDREW ALTAREJOS
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO), enjoining the Mayor of San Carlos City and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to refrain from any work or changes on the old Talave Bridge, which connects San Carlos City and the Municipality in Calatrava, pending clearance from the NHCP.
NHCP chairman Regalado Trota Jose Jr., in his letter dated July 16 to San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo and to the Regional Director of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region VI (DPWH) Nerie Bueno, reiterated the position of the Commission that they did not issue any approval to demolish the old Talave Bridge.
The letter read, “We respectfully remind your office that, as the petition to remove the presumption of the Talave Bridge as an Important Cultural Property (ICP) has not yet been decided upon, no activities within the subject property should be undertaken. We have reiterated this point in our letter addressed to your office since 2023. Additionally, during a phone conversation earlier this year between our staff and your legal officer, it was requested that proposed development plans concerning the bridge’s planned relocation be submitted. May we kindly follow up on these documents as these are essential for decision-making regarding your petition.”
The demolition of the property without any clearance from the NHCP are violations of Article III, Section 5 of Republic Act No. 10066 as amended by Republic Act No. 11961. In view of this, the NHCP is issuing a Cease-and-Desist Order (CDO) and hereby enjoins the petitioner to refrain from any work or changes in the area until such time that the NHCP board has convened concerning your petition to remove its presumption, Jose Jr. said.
Andoni Llantada, chairman of Juan Calatrava Movement (JCM), said the letter of NHCP and the issuance of a Cease-and-Desist Order against the perpetrators of the illegal demolition of Talave Bridge sends a very strong message that no one is above the law. This reinforces as well their calls since 2023 that was done was illegal, considering that there was no NHCP approval.
The NHCP has already made it clear that the demolition of DPWH without any clearance is a clear violation of Republic Act No. 10066.
Now the question is, considering that a Cease and Desist Order has been issued and the Talave Bridge has been totally demolished. What would happen now? Should DPWH rebuild the bridge back to its original location? Should cases be filed against DPWH and the LGU leaders who failed in their duty to protect the presumed Important Cultural Property from destruction?
“Juan Calatrava Movement is determined more than ever to pursue the fight for Talave Bridge as there is clearly a violation of law committed by DPWH and the LGUs. We need to show them the importance of cultural and historical preservation and to avoid events such as these to happen again (sic) in the near future.”
Juan Calatrava Movement (JCM) is also enjoining the Mayor of Calatrava, considering that Talave Bridge connects the municipality to San Carlos through Barangay Refugio. The Mayor of Calatrava has the responsibility as well to ensure the protection of cultural properties through the Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Cultural Affairs.
Currently, JCM is studying its legal options, now that the NHCP has responded and issued a CDO.
The NHCP’s letter is a confirmation on the legitimacy of the fight of JCM to preserve the bridge and we call on all Calatravanhons to join us in this crusade for Talave Bridge and all the historical and cultural structures of Calatrava.
Meanwhile, Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., San Carlos City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head, in a short phone call interview, said that the mayor, may send the letter to the DPWH, since it’s not under his office, and that the demolition of the Talave bridge was done by the DPWH.*
