Phase 2 of Casa Real restoration now 85 percent complete

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=905983
• Sunday, July 24, 2016

(PNA), PGL/LVM/LVMICUA/1135/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 21 (PNA) -- Phase 2 of the restoration work on the Casa Real, the old seat of the Pangasinan provincial government during the Spanish colonial era, being developed to become a provincial museum, is now 85 percent complete, according to National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) executive director Anacleto Badoy.

Badoy, who led the inspection and monitoring of the restoration project on July 20, said once restored, NHCP will train manpower to be provided by the Pangasinan provincial government to serve as curators of the provincial museum.

Governor Amado Espino III, who accompanied Badoy and his party to the site, expects Casa Real (Royal House) to be fully-restored next year and shall be inaugurated as the Pangasinan provincial museum during the 437th Agew na Pangasinan celebration on April 5, 2017.

Badoy came along with Tourism Infrastructure and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA) representative Efren Resoso and Curator Mark Villarin of Red Root Artist Cooperative.

Governor Espino was accompanied by Congressman Leopoldo N. Bataoil and Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Malou Elduayan during the inspection and monitoring of the project.

The Casa Real restoration project was initiated by former governor and now 5th District Rep. Amado T. Espino, Jr. in collaboration with 2nd District Representative Bataoil.On the other hand, TIEZA allocated Php 50 million for Phase 3 to fund site development and curatorial works. Espino said he will ask the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to allocate Php10 million as counterpart of the province for Phase 3.

Under Phase 3, the perimeter of the Casa Real and its environs shall also be developed and refurbished, in coordination with the local government of Lingayen.

In an interview shortly after the inspection, Espino said that restoration of Casa Real forms part of the provincial administration's advocacy to strengthen the cultural sensitivities of the Pangasinan people.

He said his administration will continue the aggressive efforts for the revival of cultural integrity of Pangasinan undertaken by his father in his nine-year stint as provincial chief executive.

“The Casa Real shall serve as repository of artifacts and other materials with significance to Pangasinan history and culture,” Espino said.

Also present during the inspection were Cris David, Phase 2 Contractor from Pampanga; Provincial Engineer Antonietta Delos Santos; Pangasinan Heritage Society Chairperson Arabella Arcinue; and DPWH officials led by Second Pangasinan Engineering District chief Rodolfo Dion.