Orientation on the Philippine Registry of Heritage (PRH) Workshop on Registry Forms for the City of Puerto Princesa
The Orientation on the Philippine Registry of Heritage (PRH) and Workshop on Registry Forms, jointly organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the City Government of Puerto Princesa, was held on October 7–8, 2025, in response to the request of the City of Puerto Princesa. The activity aimed to enhance the capacity of local stakeholders in the documentation and registration of cultural properties in compliance with RA 10066, as amended by RA 11961, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of the Philippines. This initiative forms part of the NCCA’s continuing efforts to strengthen local implementation of cultural heritage policies through training and technical assistance as emphasized by Executive Director Eric B. Zerrudo, PhD in his recorded opening remarks.
The two-day session underscored the importance of the Philippine Registry of Heritage (PRH) as a systematic mechanism for the recognition, documentation, and protection of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. It provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the procedures for accomplishing registry forms, organizing Local Cultural Inventories (LCIs), and submitting documentation for inclusion in the registry. The discussion also highlighted how effective heritage documentation supports informed policymaking, preservation initiatives, and the integration of cultural heritage in local development planning.
Participants represented a diverse range of institutions, including the City Tourism Office, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, Palawan Studies Center, Palawan Museum, Palawan State University, cultural mappers from various barangays, and other local cultural workers of the City Government of Puerto Princesa. Their participation reflected a multi-sectoral approach to heritage conservation and emphasized the shared responsibility of government institutions, academic sectors, and communities in cultural heritage safeguarding.
During the open forum, participants raised concerns related to the management and promotion of declared cultural properties, particularly in their potential use as tourism sites, challenges in securing adequate funding, and issues involving the inclusion of privately owned properties in the registry. They also emphasized the need to strengthen protection mechanisms for cultural properties, especially as the majority of Puerto Princesa’s heritage assets are categorized as natural heritage, immovable and movable cultural properties, as well as intangible cultural heritage. These discussions provided valuable insights into the realities of heritage management in local contexts and underscored the importance of policy responsiveness and collaborative governance.
The activity reaffirmed the essential role of local government units and community-based institutions as primary stewards of cultural heritage. Through sustained partnership between the NCCA and the City Government of Puerto Princesa, the training contributed to the development of a more integrated and participatory framework for the safeguarding, promotion, and sustainable management of the city’s diverse cultural heritage as emphasized by Mr. Demetrio Alvior, Jr., City Tourism Officer, in his closing remarks.
