In a significant move for cultural preservation, Iloilo City has officially handed over the historic Jaro municipal building to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The transfer was sealed with a deed of usufruct signed at the Iloilo City Hall on February 13, 2025. Mayor Jerry Treñas praised the building as a ‘jewel’ of the city, expressing high hopes for its future under the NCCA’s management.
The ceremony saw signatures from key figures including Mayor Treñas, NCCA Chairperson Victorino Mapa Manalo, NCCA Executive Director Erick Zerrudo, and Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon. This transfer marks Iloilo City as the pioneer in establishing an NCCA regional and cultural hub in the Philippines.
The Jaro municipal building, now a hub for NCCA activities, will focus on cultural archiving and heritage conservation. Manalo commended Iloilo’s efforts in cultural mapping, urban landscape preservation, and innovative underground cabling projects.
Further enhancing cultural initiatives, the NCCA also entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI). Zerrudo highlighted IFFI’s strong track record in cultural programming and confirmed a grant to support their arts and heritage projects. Allan Ryan Tan, president of IFFI, emphasized the importance of this partnership for the sustainability and innovation of local festivals, aiming to position Iloilo as the festival capital of the country.
The 90-year-old art-deco Jaro Municipal Hall, designed by renowned architect Juan Arellano, is part of the Jaro Plaza Complex. This complex was declared a ‘Cultural Heritage Tourism Zone’ under Republic Act No. 10555, which was authored by Treñas during his time as a City District Representative. The NCCA has allocated PHP6.5 million for the building’s repair and maintenance, ensuring its preservation for future generations.