The Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) was built in 1911 on a 868-square meter lot next to the Iloilo Capitol building in the heart of Iloilo City. It was abandoned in 2006, after the completion the new rehabilitation center in Brgy. Nanga, Pototan.
The IRC could easily pass as a heritage site, unfortunately it is currently up for demolition to give way to a state-of-the art 6-storey government building and 3000-seat convention center.
It is so sad to see that the IRC building which is one of the oldest icon on that area is going down. Its surrounding pretty much contained old bdg, prov’l capitol and the old bldg close to a hotel are old heritage sites. I think we Illonggos should wake up and form a Heritage Building committee to save precious part of history. I would rather come back to Iloilo seeing my old heritage preserved than seeing white elephants that doesn’t really have any historical values. Calle Real should be preserved and urban development should be centered on diversion road.
indeed it is so sad to know that this will be out of our site and shall be shared only by pictures and just a mere story no more facade… funny thing is the government is willing to make “utang” just for the convention center — which can be put in some other areas. it can be another site or an extension of our museum as everyone knows it is crowded and not properly arranged (the exhibits i mean) so i think being an extension of the iloilo museum as part of our heritage is good… damn good…
mind you all for a 3th seating capacity of the convention center that is being proposed (which will be another add up to the debt of the filipino people!) what will happen tot he little mini museum we have?.. what will happen to the DOT office?… DOT should be the first to act on this… if you want tourism.. then there goes your story ” here once the OLD IRC stand!”
now, ilonggos should be aware of the heritage. it seems that they do not care at all… People will do anything for the name of ‘success’ won’t they? but look, they could just find a nice place in the diversion area not in iloilo’s heritage centers…. Manila now is quite upset since Intramuros isn’t that “historical anymore” this is because of the comercial buildings and slums located inside the fortress city… why not be like VIgan? we have a lot to offer too… all we need is to get ourselves out of oblivion and be involved in preserving our heritage sites.
In essence the IRC is a jail and was put up without aesthetics in mind. I’m not pro demolition, but if there’s other more beneficial uses for the lot then there’s nothing we can do.
NO NEED 2 THANK ME IM ALWAYS HERE 2 SUPPORT ILOILO BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, THAT’S WHY WE NEED 2 PLAN WELL 4 ITS FUTURE. MSPL LET’S CONTINUE TO SUPPORT INFORMATIVE BLOG/SITE BY CHYMERA. W/O HIS UNTIRING WORKS WE’RE ALL BLINDED OF WHAT’S NEW IN ILOILO.
may i ask . . . where can i find or read the case of one of the imates i know?i want to know further about his case . . .if you could post it? is it possible?tnxs & God Bless!