Retain Cagayan de Oro bridge – NHCP

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has recommended retaining the old Ysalina Bridge here amid the proposed demolition of the structure for public safety.

The NHCP made the recommendation through a letter addressed to Mayor Rolando Uy in response to that sent by the Kagay-an Heritage Advocates in this city, which has been the group fighting for the preservation of the bridge, which, according to the NHCP, is considered a presumed Important Cultural Property (ICP).

It also received a communication from the Department of Public Works and Highways-northern Mindanao (DPWH-10) asking for its recommendation.

Aside from retaining the old bridge, the commission also recommended building a new bridge with separate sidewalks and bike lanes.

“Which is the favorable option protecting the existing bridge but still addresses the need to decongest the traffic in the area,” the NHCP said in a letter dated November 9, 2023, signed by officer-in-charge Carminda Arevalo, and obtained by the Manila Bulletin through the Kagay-an Heritage Advocates.

There was a proposal to make Ysalina Bridge a four-lane structure, and the idea, according to the DPWH-10, came from the city government. But the agency clarified that it is not yet final, considering that the Ysalina Bridge Redevelopment Project is still in its initial stage.

The recommendation provided by the NHCP was also part of the options that DPWH-10 has. But if there are no changes to be made, the agency wants the bridge to be only used by pedestrians because “it’s no longer safe.”

Meanwhile, the NHCP said other historical sites that may be affected by the project should also be considered, such as the Cagayan de Oro City Hall, since structures dating at least 50-years-old are considered IPCS, according to Section 5(f) of Republic Act No. 10066, also known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.

Heritage advocates want Ysalina Bridge to be registered in the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP). But the commission suggested including it first in the city’s historical and cultural properties prior to endorsing it to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Arthur Aranas of the Kagayan Heritage Advocates thanked the NHCP for its recommendation and for seeing the wisdom of retaining the cultural and historical value of the Ysalina Bridge.

“We’re very happy with this development because this will help us ensure that the bridge will be preserved and no one can arbitrarily decide to destroy the bridge,” Aranas said in an interview on Saturday, November 18.

Aranas urged the city government to “respect and endorse” the NHCP’S recommendation.

DPWH-10 Roshelle Novie Cabrido had earlier said the agency recommended the reconstruction of the bridge because of the defects they noticed, and they are ready to present the structural analysis at an upcoming meeting with the city government and stakeholders.

The DPWH-10 and the City Mayor’s Office have been asked to confirm if they have received the NHCP letter but have yet to respond as of posting time.