Vigan conservation complex nears completion

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur—A one-stop shop conservation complex is expected to be completed early this May in time for the official inauguration of Vigan City as a new wonder city of the world.

Vigan Mayor Eva Marie Singson-Medina said the first-of-its-kind conservation complex in this northern part of the Philippines features at least three museums to showcase the history of the church, the city and the old houses of Vigan.

“This conservation complex is very complicated as it was designed a multi-use building. Right now, we are preparing for the three museums. These museums will be interactive in nature so that it will not be boring to our students,” Ms. Medina said citing for example that a visitor may design his own Vigan house by changing its color or roof tiles.

Aside from the construction of museums using Vigan’s local construction materials such as bricks, Ms. Medina said that a training center for various skilled jobs like plumbing, electrical wiring, woodworks and ironworks among others will be taught to interested participants.

In addition, a home depot will also be established in an adjacent building where the city government will buy old materials which can still be repaired or reused. While doing so, new trainees will have the opportunity to apply immediately their newly-acquired skills at the laboratory and later on sell these repaired items at the home depot for homeowners.

“Once we have the home depot”, Ms. Medina added that it would be easier for homeowners to maintain and repair their houses with readily available materials for them.

On-going construction of the Vigan conservation complex. (Lei Adriano)

As a top-tourist destination and center of culture and trade, the heritage city of Vigan continue to adopt new measures in support of its conservation program.

Prior to its brand new tag as one of the seven new wonder cities of the world, local regulations and ordinances had been enacted through the creation of a multi-sectoral Vigan Conservation Council to regulate urbanization and rehabilitate ancestral houses in Vigan now used as souvenir shops, restaurants and hotels to boost its tourism development program.

“By doing so, we hope to sustain our conservation efforts and be ready for some drastic change now that Vigan has been proclaimed as a wonder city,” the lady mayor said.