THE 80-YEAR-old Cebu provincial capitol building, declared a National Historical Landmark in 2008, will be turned into a cultural and leisure venue after the proposed 20-storey modern building within the same compound is completed. Provincial Tourism Office head Joselito R. Costas, in a statement, said the old edifice would be “reconfigured in a way that would put it to productive use through the conservation strategy of adaptive reuse.” “Conserving a building does not need to be done purely on the grounds of mere heritage preservation… conservation is also a means of safeguarding a cultural heritage with the view to suitably adapting the society’s needs,” said Mr. Costas during last week’s public consultation on the proposed P1.5 billion new Resource Center, where the provincial government plans to move its offices. Among the income-generating uses eyed for the old Capitol are function rooms, offices, restaurants, art galleries, cafés and showrooms for Cebu products. “The entire effort can be self-sustaining if the buildings are restored and put into productive use,” Mr. Costas said. — BW

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR