ILOILO CITY, JUNE 4, 2025 – Many among the owners of old and decrepit buildings in Iloilo City have decided to retrofit the old structures instead of ordering outright demolitions, particularly those considered “condemnable”.
City building official Engr. Mavi Gustilo told HilwayNews in an exclusive interview today that over a period of 2 years, old buildings particularly in the city proper have undergone *structural assessments” by a team of engineers in the Office of Building Official (OBO).
Engr. Gustilo cited as example the Locsin-Cosculluela building at the junction of Iznart and Ledesma streets which was built in 1920 and were among the 4 old structures found to need immediate structural assessments, out of the initial 35 buildings inspected by the OBO at the city proper area in 2023.
“Of course there were some challenges in enforcing prompt compliance to the building code since there are structures with several owners,” noted Engr. Gustilo.
She also pointed out the laws governing heritage structures that have to be observed with regards to change, rehabilitation, condemnation or demolition of old buildings.
