Iloilo City, NCCA ink deed of usufruct for Old Jaro Municipal Hall

Forging a milestone in heritage conservation, the Iloilo City Government and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) formally signed the Deed of Usufruct for the Old Jaro Municipal Hall on February 1 at Iloilo City Hall.

Mayor Jerry Treñas was joined by Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, representing the city government, along with NCCA signatories Executive Director Erick B. Zerrudo and Chairperson Victorino Mapa Manalo.

“I am proud that we have entered into a very important collaboration with the NCCA. We hope that the Jaro Municipio will be put to good use,” said Treñas, who considered the building “one of the jewels of Iloilo City.”

To complement this, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on the same occasion between the NCCA and the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI).

This makes Iloilo City the first in the country to have its own NCCA regional and cultural hub. It will cover the service delivery of the NCCA and the use of the historic town hall as an archiving space, among other functions and operations.

On his part, IFFI President Allan Ryan Tan said the partnership is vital for the sustainability and innovation of local festivals as the city aims to become the festival capital of the country.

In a response message, Manalo said there is much to learn from Iloilo City, especially its efforts in cultural mapping, urban landscape, and heritage conservation, including its underground cabling efforts.

Zerrudo, meanwhile, cited Iloilo City as a “prime mover” for heritage conservation and urbanism, which will serve as the gravitational pull needed to translate efforts to the province and the region.

The 90-year-old art-deco Old Jaro Municipal Hall, designed by Architect Juan Arellano, is part of the Jaro Plaza Complex, which, under Republic Act No. 10555—authored by Treñas during his term as City District Representative—was declared a “Cultural Heritage Tourism Zone,” along with other areas in Iloilo City.

Notably, the NCCA has allotted a P6.5 million budget for the repair and maintenance of the structure. During the signing, the city mayor committed to cover the building’s electricity expenses.

The milestone was also witnessed by representatives from the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council and the Iloilo City Local Culture and Arts Council. (Iloilo City PIO)