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Government documents about the Huluga archaeological site

Published Saturday, November 9, 2019 2:48 PM. Updated Tuesday, August 29, 2023 3:14 PM.
 
February 1992 The National Museum publishes the report Archaeological Exploration in Cagayan de Oro and Vicinities.
October 6, 1999 Antonio J. Montalván II, a member of the City Historical and Cultural Commission (HISCOM) alerts city officials about the possible destruction of Huluga because of a road-and-bridge project. The city council then passes a resolution, drafted by Montalván, declaring the "Huluga Caves Area located in Taguanao and Indahag as a heritage landmark ...." [3.8MB]
May 3, 2001 Because of the continuous construction of the bridge, the director of the Department of Tourism of Region 10, Dorothy Jean Pabayo, sends a letter to Richard Gordon, secretary of the Department of Tourism. Excerpt: "The action needed is immediate; the response critical in saving the open site that has yielded so many pieces of potsherds."

[Webmaster: Some fuzzy text, caused by faulty fax transmission, have been corrected.]
May 9, 2001 Ruth Sabijon, the Regional Director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-10) issues a memorandum. Excerpt:

"The proponent has not yet secured the necessary Environmental Compliance Certificate as required under PD 1586. This Office hereby recommends the issuance of Notice of Violation."
The bridge connecting Taguanao and Balulang under construction in 2003

The bridge under construction in September 2003. It would be officially named after former Philippine president Emmanuel Pelaez. The Pelaez family owns a well-preserved ancestral house in Medina, Misamis Oriental.

 
May 28, 2001 Concerned about the condition of Huluga, the director of the Regional Development Council, Dr. Raymundo Fonollera, writes to the regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-10, Fernando Quililan. Excerpt: "There is an on-going construction of a bridge even without the necessary Environmental Compliance Certificate ..."[300KB] [3MB]
July 12, 2001 Several government officials and members of the academe attend a meeting with anthropologist Dr. Erlinda Burton at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan to discuss the Huluga issue.
July 16, 2001 Ruth Sabijon, the Regional Director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-10), orders mayor Vicente Emano to cease and desist from building the bridge.
June 30, 2003 Bridge construction continues. Obsidian Hill split in two. National Museum director Corazon Alvina sends a letter to anthropologist Dr. Erlinda Burton when Alvina learns of damages on the Huluga archaeological site.
July 4, 2003 Students and faculty of the University of the Philippines-Archaeological Studies Program (UP-ASP) call for a stop to the destruction of the Huluga archaeological site.
 
August 13, 2003 National Museum director Corazon Alvina sends a letter to Cagayan de Oro mayor Vicente Emano.
August 14, 2003 Dr. Victor Paz, director of the University of the Philippines-Archaeological Studies Program (UP-ASP) sends a letter to Cagayan de Oro mayor Vicente Emano.
August 20, 2003 Senator Loren Legarda files resolution 656 "seeking an immediate Senate investigation into the reported destruction of the prehistoric Huluga site in Barangay Indahag here due to the city government’s ongoing road and bridge construction project in the area."

[Webmaster: The Senate did not conduct an inquiry.]
 
July 16, 2003 Six members of the HCA filed a case against Emano and the contractor UKC Builders before the DENR. Atty. Manuel R. Ravanera gave pro bono assistance by writing the complaint and subsequent rebuttal. The HCA requested the DENR to issue a cease-and-desist order to stop the ongoing bridge-and-road project.
Atty. Manuel "Maning" Ravanera

Left: Atty. Manuel "Maning" Ravanera reads the complaint filed by the Heritage Conservation Advocates (HCA) against mayor Vicente Y. Emano and UKC Builders, Inc. Right: Sabdullah Abubacar, director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of Region 10.
   
September 16, 2003 The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) penalizes city hall and its contractor for violating PD 1586. It also orders city hall to coordinate with the National Museum, the Department of Tourism, and the Research Institute for Mindanao Culture (RIMCU). [3MB]
January 19, 2004 City council ordinance authorizes the mayor to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the University of the Philippines-Archaeological Studies Program (UP-ASP).

[Webmaster: Emano signs MOA with UP-ASP even though EMB does not mention UP-ASP in its decision.]
August 30, 2004 City council ordinance approves payment worth P450,000 to the University of the Philippines-Archaeological Studies Program (UP-ASP for research in Cagayan de Oro.
2004 The University of the Philippines-Archaeological Studies Program (UP-ASP) publishes a report that describes Huluga as
" ... a Habitation, But Unlikely a Settlement." See full document or selected three pages.]

[Webmaster: UP-ASP conducts research on Huluga and other archaeological sites without coordinating with DOT and RIMCU. However, the National Museum gives the group permission to dig.]
 
October 4, 2007 City council secretary sends the aforementioned ordinances to Dr. Erlinda Burton.
October 18, 2007 National Museum director Corazon Alvina appoints the Heritage Conservation Advocates (HCA) as "Cultural Properties Deputy" for two and a half months.
November 6, 2007 Museo de Oro curator Dr. Erlinda Burton writes a letter of complaint to mayor Constantino Jaraula. Copy sent to congressman Rufus Rodriguez.
May 9, 2008 Lawyer Raquel Limbaco, on behalf of the HCA, writes to mayor Constantino Jaraula. Subject: Protection and preservation of Huluga.
March 26, 2010 President Gloria Arroyo signs Republic Act 10066, "An act providing for the protection and conservation of the national cultural heritage, strengthening the national commission for culture and the arts (NCCA) and its affiliated cultural agencies, and for other purposes".

[Webmaster: Republic Act 10066, which was passed in 2009, mentions the word "archaeology" once, and "archaeological" 18 times.]
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