19/05/2026
The Philippine Postal Corporation released a special stamp series featuring iconic plazas across the country in celebration of National Heritage Month. Allow me to share pertinent portions of the IRR of RA10066:
𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟵. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. - The NHCP, through Resolution No. 7, s. 2018 declared all Spanish and American colonial period plazas and public squares as National Historic Sites for their preservation and protection, and are thus Grade II Level cultural properties according to the Act and these Rules.
These plazas and public squares continue to serve as open spaces for people to congregate and participate in public activities that made an impact in the history of towns and cities. Historic open spaces serve as greeneries, gardens, and breathing spaces for the community amidst current environmental and public health issues like global warming, urban pollution, and pandemics.
These plazas and public squares should also be kept as open spaces to be used as evacuation areas in case of hazards such as earthquakes and fires.
𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟵.𝟭. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. - The construction of covered and other structures in historic plazas and public squares, including but not limited to covered courts, multi-purpose halls, event venues, parking lots and buildings, government buildings and offices, barangay halls, stages, perimeter walls, fences, plant boxes, bleachers, gazebos, waiting sheds, and market stalls shall be prohibited unless a clearance is secured from the NHCP through the Commission.
𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟵.𝟮. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀. - LGUs shall endeavor to restore their historic plazas and public squares to the period when they were most historically significant. Structures built without clearance from the NHCP, particularly those built in violation of Republic Act No. 10066 and/or Resolution No. 7, s. 2018 should be removed. LGUs are also strongly encouraged to remove covered structures and other elements that were not part of the historic open spaces during the Spanish or American colonial period, unless they are at least 50 years old. Development plans for historic open spaces should be approved by the NHCP prior to the commencement of any work. Requests for approval shall be filed with the Commission.
𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟵.𝟯. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘆. - Trees, grass lawn areas, and other greenery should be preserved. The cutting of historic and/or native trees and replacement of green spaces with concrete, concrete pavers, or similar materials shall be prohibited unless a clearance is secured from the NHCP through the Commission. The necessary permits should also be secured from the DENR.
𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟵.𝟰. 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. - Monuments are memorials to historic events, places and heroes and their deeds and contributions to the building of our nation. Therefore, monuments must be treated as sacred or hallowed grounds and accorded with the same full reverence as we have for the Philippine Flag. Any form of desecration against monuments, such as squatting, graffiti and advertising commercialism shall not be allowed. The Guidelines on Monuments Honoring National Heroes, Illustrious Filipinos and other Personages (2012) shall guide the management of monuments in historic open spaces unless otherwise updated by the NHCP. They shall be made part of these Rules as Annex 26.
𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟵.𝟱. 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. - The NHCP, in consultation with the Commission, shall issue guidelines for the preservation of historic plazas and public squares, which shall be made part of these Rules as Annex 27. The requests for clearances and approvals shall be filed with the Commission, which shall forward the same to the NHCP for appropriate action. In cases when the NHCP receives a request directly, it shall acknowledge the request within the prescriptive period and act on it after furnishing the Commission with a copy.
𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟵.𝟲. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. - The Commission and NHCP shall create an inventory of Spanish and American colonial period plazas and public squares covered by NHCP Resolution No. 7, s. 2018 for inclusion in the Registry. They shall also designate core and buffer zones for each plaza and public square. The inventory shall include other cultural properties that are part of the plazas and squares, including historic structures, monuments, and street furniture.
