The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) is preparing to restore the old Municipal Hall and town plaza in Balilihan.
NMP Director Jeremy Barns and Balilihan Mayor Pureza Veloso-Chatto signed the memorandum of agreement for the restoration of the important cultural properties at the Municipal Hall Grounds on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
Cong. Edgar Chatto witnessed the signing together with NMP Deputy Director-General for Administration Atty. Ma. Rosenne Flores-Avila, NMP Bohol OIC Audrey Dawn Tomada and Balilihan Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Adelene Gaas-Ibarra.
The old Balilihan Municipal Hall as well as the town’s Municipal Plaz, also known as Plaza Rizal, have been declared as important cultural properties by the NMP under Republic Act 10066 or the National Heritage Act of 2009.
The NMP proposed for the restoration of the important cultural properties last year and pushed for its funding with support coming from Cong. Chatto.
Around P11 million has been allocated in the General Appropriations Act of 2022 for the restoration work, according to reports.
The Balilihan Belfry and Watchtower are also tagged as important cultural properties that had been restored by the NMP.