By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will rehabilitate the nearly century-old Old Jaro Municipal Hall, transforming it into the agency’s first regional and cultural hub.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, NCCA Chairperson Victorino Mapa Manalo, and NCCA Executive Director Erick Zerrudo signed the deed of usufruct and memorandum of agreement on Thursday, Feb. 13.
“Iloilo has so many jewels, and this is one of the best that we can offer. It can be put to other uses,” Treñas said.
Manalo said the establishment of the cultural hub will enhance NCCA’s service delivery in Iloilo City and potentially expand to Western Visayas.
“There is so much to learn from Iloilo […] We will do our best to support, especially in technical empowerment and skills training,” he added.
A Historic Landmark
The Old Jaro Municipal Hall is part of Iloilo’s Cultural Heritage Tourism Zone under Republic Act No. 10555.
Constructed between 1933 and 1934 under the supervision of then-presidente municipal Demetrio Ledesma, the building served as Jaro’s seat of government until the district merged with Iloilo City in 1941.
Designed by renowned architect Juan Arellano, the hall features Art Deco elements typical of public buildings from the American colonial period.
In 2014, it was donated to the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) for restoration. A PHP20 million renovation project led to its reopening in 2017 as an NMP satellite office for Western Visayas.
The restored hall was inaugurated on Feb. 17, 2017, when it was declared an “Important Cultural Property.”
Manalo highlighted Iloilo City’s role as a leader in heritage conservation, with the potential to influence neighboring areas.
“Iloilo City is a beacon, a prime mover in heritage and urbanism. We should consider the city as a gravitational pull that can translate this energy to the whole province,” he said.
