Legarda Pushes for Preservation of Gabaldon Schools in 2016 Nat’l Budget

Senator Loren Legarda has pushed for strengthened measures in preserving Gabaldon school buildings and other heritage school buildings in the country through a special provision under the proposed 2016 national budget.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Finance and Cultural Communities, introduced a special provision under the budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) prohibiting the demolition of Gabaldon school buildings and other heritage school buildings.

The provision further states that “the Deped shall endeavor to preserve and restore the existing Gabaldon school buildings and other heritage school buildings as part of the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.”

Legarda said that Gabaldon school buildings, like the heritage houses built during the Spanish period, speak much about the nation’s history.

“The preservation and restoration of these structures can promote the concept of heritage conservation especially in the provinces where many of these built heritage remain standing. These buildings can be used to ease classroom shortage or congestion especially in the countryside,” she said.

“As we teach the Filipino youth our nation’s culture and history, we should also inculcate in them the respect for things that form part of our heritage,” she added.

The Gabaldon school buildings were designed by American architect William Parsons and funded through Act No. 1801 authored by Philippine Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon.

The Gabaldon schools are huge school buildings with high ceiling, spacious corridors and rooms that are divided by wooden collapsible partitions with wide windows made up of capiz shells.

Legarda said that as built heritage structures, the Gabaldon buildings represent historic, architectural and socio-political significance to the country.