The Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras (CMPG) Project team organized a series of coordination meetings together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), partner state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local government units (LGUs) from Panay and Guimaras at the Performing Arts Hall of the University of the Philippines Visayas Iloilo City campus from January 10-12, 2024.
NCCA Commissioner Dr. Arvin Manuel Villalon and NCCA Program Manager Ms. Gladys Argonza were the resource persons during the three-day meeting. Dr. Villalon presented a lecture on the cultural mapping program, including the objectives, framework, techniques, and procedures. It was attended by the cultural mapping heads, representatives, and staff of Aklan State University, Capiz State University, Iloilo Science and Technology University, Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, Guimaras State University, West Visayas State University, and the University of Antique, as well as representatives from the LGUs of the City of Iloilo, Province of Iloilo, Province of Capiz, Province of Guimaras, Province of Antique, and Province of Aklan.
Villalon also discussed the considerations and concerns in mapping Panay and Guimaras, highlighting the different baseline data of the provinces in these islands. Cultural mapping forms that need updating and the terminal output of the project were also discussed.
“The Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras Project is the first in the country to embark on a regional cultural mapping,” Villalon emphasized. Negros Occidental will soon be part of the cultural mapping through as discussions for these are underway with the DepEd Regional Office.
The cultural mapping heads and representatives of the SUCs and LGUs also presented their accomplishments, issues and concerns, and other updates about the project to synchronize the efforts of each team as the primary stakeholders of CMPG during the meetings.
CMPG Program Manager Prof. Martin Genodepa, Overall Project Leader Anna Razel Limoso-Ramirez, Overall Co-Project Leader Frances Anthea Redison, and the project team members from UP Visayas were present to answer queries from the participating institutions and facilitated the meeting.
CMPG fulfills the mandates of the Republic Act No. 11961, also known as the "Cultural Mapping Law," which was approved on August 24, 2023. It is “an Act Strengthening the Conservation and Protection of Philippine Cultural Heritage through Cultural Mapping and enhances the Cultural Heritage Education Program.
