Upkeep of heritage sites to bear brunt of budget cuts due to COVID-19 —NHCP exec

The maintenance and restoration of some heritage sites in the Philippines would possibly bear the brunt of budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an official from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines said Wednesday.

"This year some of our funds for the capital outlay were returned or reverted for the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act," NHCP Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Projects Alvin Alcid said in a Senate hearing of the Basic Education, Arts and Culture Committee.

More than P100 million have been realigned from NHCP's budget and around P300 million more are seen to be removed for 2021, according to him.

"Malaki ang impact but we will appeal pa rin po sa DBM (Department of Budget and Management). In fact, we are writing them right now for an appeal para ibalik 'yung ibang budget for capital outlay, specifically for restoration of heritage structures," he added.

If this does not work out, the NHCP executive said they will turn to the local government units for help.

Further, Alcid said that the agency's "limited" technical teams would also be deployed to forestall the deterioration of heritage sites.

"As of now mayroon naman po kaming technical team, mayroon kaming restoration team that could provide them some advice on how to preserve kahit po hindi lang magtuloy-tuloy ang pagkasira ng ating heritage structures," he said.

The NHCP has yet to submit a detailed list of heritage sites that would be affected by the budget cuts. —LDF, GMA News