Iloilo stakeholders shape Calle Real conservation policies

By Aprille Danilly Guintibano

ILOILO CITY — Heritage advocates, government officials, property owners, tenants, and academics gathered July 16 to develop policy recommendations for conserving and sustainably developing Calle Real, Iloilo City’s historic commercial district.

The Calle Real Stakeholders’ Forum was held at the Bluechips Audio-Visual Room in the College of Management Building at the University of the Philippines Visayas Iloilo City campus.

The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies Local Regional Studies Network project team organized the forum in partnership with the Iloilo City government and the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council.

The forum was part of the project titled “Heritage as Public Policy: Preserving and Promoting Iloilo Calle Real Heritage Buildings.”

Participants included members of the Iloilo Heritage Council led by council Chairman Emmanuel Gemora.

Representatives from the city assessor’s, tourism, planning and development, architect’s, and legal offices also attended.

Other participants included heritage advocates, academics, property owners, and commercial tenants.

Project leader Mary Rose G. Rebueno described Calle Real in her opening message as more than a collection of heritage structures.

She said the district is the living heart of Iloilo City’s identity, where history, culture, and commerce converge.

Rebueno emphasized that effective heritage conservation requires policies that respond to the realities faced by property owners and tenants.

She said conservation measures must also ensure that Calle Real remains relevant as Iloilo City continues to develop.

The forum examined challenges in maintaining heritage buildings, including structural preservation, safety compliance, and changing business needs.

Participants highlighted the need for collaborative and evidence-based policies that would turn heritage conservation from a regulatory obligation into a shared economic and cultural opportunity.

Architect Wilfredo Sy Jr. presented a profile of Calle Real during the morning session.

His presentation covered the district’s heritage buildings, architectural styles, ownership patterns, existing conditions, identified risks, and national and local conservation policies.

The afternoon workshop divided participants into three groups.

The groups represented tenants and building owners, government agencies and city planners, and historians, heritage advocates, and academics.

Participants identified conservation challenges, examined policy gaps, and proposed measures to strengthen heritage governance in Calle Real.

The forum forms part of the continuing implementation of the UP CIDS Local Regional Studies Network project.

The initiative promotes heritage conservation through policy research and collaboration among multiple sectors.

The project team will incorporate the forum’s findings into policy recommendations aimed at protecting Calle Real’s built heritage while supporting its sustainable economic and cultural development.

Iloilo City’s development plans identify the restoration of Calle Real’s Art Deco buildings and the pedestrianization of the historic district as part of broader heritage preservation and urban renewal efforts.

Rebueno leads the project with Assistant Professor Rene Trance, Sy, Aprille Danilly Guintibano, and Maricar Gebucion as research team members.