The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) on Thursday said  that it would form a task force for the restoration of the neoclassical building.

Headed by the NCCA, the inter-agency task force for cultural heritage will be formed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the National Museum, the National Archives of the Philippines, and the Philippine Postal Corporation, NCCA Executive Director Oscar Casaysay told One News’ The Big Story.

Casaysay said they will discuss emergency conservation measures and post-disaster record management and business continuity, among others, once they convene.

Lawmakers, meanwhile, have initiated investigations on the Sunday fire incident and have been looking for funds for the restoration of the 97-year-old heritage building.

From all the efforts being exerted by the Filipino people, it is clear how the Manila Central Post Office remains to be significant for them, even in the digital era.

Post office’s purpose

The Manila Central Post Office was built in 1926 to serve as the headquarters of the Philippine Postal Corporation, which was then called Bureau of Posts.

Created through Republic Act No. 462 in 1902, the PHLPost mission is to provide “efficient, competitive, and on-time delivery of communications, goods and merchandise, and payment services” to Filipinos. 

These services, however, can now be done by accessing the internet. 

People can connect with others in just one click, even if they are abroad. They can also pay their bills through mobile payment services and send goods via delivery applications.

But what people did not know is that some important deliveries still enter the post office, Bea Dolores, co-founder and vice president of cultural organization Renacimiento Manila told RepublicAsia.

“[The] internet has helped us connect and transact with one another even as we’re cities and countries apart. The rise of online shopping made deliveries much more active these days,” the official said.

While this is the case, Dolores said that, “[G]overnment and overseas documents still pass through [the] post office.”

She also stressed the value of handwritten letters in the sea of digital messages.

“With everything virtual, handwritten and personalized items from loved ones offer a lasting genuine connection despite the distance,” Dolores said.

Filipinos are also reminded of their history, arts, and culture through the post office’s stamps placed on their mails.

“The creative stamps offered by the Post Office are also a delight for collectors, young kids, and all who receive these,” she shared.

The post office continues to play a major role that other digital services cannot play. Today, PHLPost handles the nationwide delivery of the national IDs.

The heritage site’s value

The Manila Central Post Office building itself has so much value for the country as it is an existing witness to its historical events.

“These structures are testaments of our history and identity as Filipinos. They showcase the wonders of Filipino ingenuity and the beauty we can create, for us to aspire [for] a better future,” the official said.

The nation’s treasure is also a big help to the environment.

According to the 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, the buildings and construction sector contributed to the increase of carbon emissions in 2021.

The report found out that C02 emissions from building operations in that year went up to 10 GtCO2, a five percent increase from 2020 and two percent from 2019.

Dolores believes that heritage structures like the Manila Central Post Office must be sustained not only because of its historical importance but also as a “response to the climate emergency.”

“Our cultural properties aren’t just stationary things, they are places of memory cared by many. We all share the same realities of having our very own personal memories with the place, whether by ourselves and with our loved ones,” she highlighted.

Renacimiento Manila remains hopeful that the Manila Central Post Office will regain its glory after the tragic incident. 

With the wide support for its restoration, Dolores also hopes that the public will also value other Manila’s gems like the Pasig River, Escolta, San Nicolas, Binondo, and Quiapo and Sta. Ana’s heritage zones.