Heritage advocates, local government officials, property owners, tenants, and members of the academic community gathered for the Iloilo City’s Calle Real Stakeholders’ Forum on July 16, 2026, at the Bluechips AVR, College of Management Building, University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Iloilo City Campus, to help shape policy recommendations for the conservation and sustainable development of Iloilo City’s historic commercial district.
The forum was organized by the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) project team, which is implementing “Heritage as Public Policy: Preserving and Promoting Iloilo Calle Real Heritage Buildings,” in partnership with the Iloilo City Government and the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC).
Participants included members of the Iloilo Heritage Council lead by the ICCHCC Chairperson Mr. Emmanuel Gemora . There were also representatives from the City Assessor’s Office, City Tourism Office, City Planning and Development Office, City Architect’s Office, City Legal Office as well as heritage advocates, members of the academe, property owners, and commercial tenants.
In her opening message, Project Leader Dr. Mary Rose G. Rebueno described Calle Real as more than a collection of heritage structures, calling it the living heart of Iloilo City’s identity where history, culture, and commerce converge. She emphasized that effective heritage conservation requires policies that respond to the realities faced by property owners and tenants while ensuring the district’s continued relevance amid urban development.
Recognizing the challenges of maintaining heritage buildings—including structural preservation, safety compliance, and evolving business demands—the forum highlighted the need for collaborative, evidence-based policies that transform heritage conservation from a regulatory obligation into a shared economic and cultural opportunity.
During the morning session, Arch. Wilfredo Sy, Jr. presented a profile of Calle Real, covering the district’s heritage buildings, architectural typologies, ownership profile, existing conditions, identified risks, and the national and local policies governing heritage conservation.
The afternoon workshop featured breakout discussions among three stakeholder groups: 1) tenants and building owners; 2) government agencies and city planners; and 3) historians, heritage advocates and academe. Participants identified conservation challenges, examined policy gaps, and proposed recommendations to strengthen heritage governance in Calle Real.
The stakeholders’ forum is part of the ongoing implementation of the UP CIDS LRSN project, which advances heritage conservation through policy research and multi-stakeholder collaboration. The insights gathered during the forum will be integrated with policy recommendations to protect Calle Real’s built heritage while supporting its sustainable economic and cultural development.
The project is led by Dr. Rebueno, with Asst. Prof. Rene Trance, Arch. Wilfredo Sy, Jr., Aprille Danilly Guintibano, and Maricar Gebucion serving as members of the research team.
Written by: Aprille Danilly Guintibano
Photos by: Aprille Danilly Guintibano, Maricar Gebucion
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