Samar launches campaign to conserve Spanish-era defense structures with USD245K grant

The Samar provincial government launched a campaign to conserve defense structures built during the Spanish colonization with support from the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics (UST-CCCPET).

Funded by a USD245,000 grant from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, the project aims to protect 22 documented defense structures across Samar, including 13 sentinels overlooking sea or river routes, seven fortifications, one naval garrison, and one undetermined structure.

National Commission for Culture and Arts Executive Director Eric Zerrudo encouraged locals to be guardians of these heritage sites, emphasizing their importance in connecting the past with a promising future.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chair Regalado Trota Jose stressed the need for proper knowledge of the past to safeguard fortifications and urged sending scholars to Spain’s Franciscan archive.

Governor Sharee Ann Tan thanked all agencies involved, highlighting education as a priority to help younger generations appreciate Samar's history.

Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes expressed commitment to supporting preservation efforts and promoting tourism based on these historical sites.