THE National Historical Institute (NHI) has agreed to assist the city government of Naga in the rehabilitation and preservation of several historical sites in the city that dates back to the Spanish regime, including the San Francisco Church and its centuries-old belfry.

        In October 20, the city government asked for the support from the NHI in the promotion and preservation of the city’s “historical and cultural heritage.”

        Recently, the NHI assured the city government that it would spearhead the installation of historical markers honoring the uprising of local heroes that ushered the end of Spanish rule in Bicol at the soon to be completed Plaza Ciudad de Nueva Caceres

        Earlier, the city government was assailed by a civic group claiming that the city government had shown lack of sense of history for not initiating efforts to preserve historical sites in the city, especially the old belfry of San Francisco Church, which had been obscured by plant overgrowth.

        This group even dared to remove the overgrowth themselves, betraying their “eager-beaverness” and ignorance.

        City Mayor Robredo explained that the NHI had discouraged the city government from “touching” any of the historical sites in the city without the close supervision of the concerned government agency.

        Removing the plant overgrowth fringing the San Francisco Church belfry, for instance, would require the delicate process of applying systemic herbicide intended to kill the encroaching plants without further deteriorating the bricked structure of the belfry. This process could only be done with supervision from NHI.

        Robredo also said the reason why there a seemed to be a delay in the installation of markers in some of the historical sites in Naga was because his administration gave more priority to initiating activities that focus on historical awareness.

        Meanwhile, the NHI gave assurance that it would help the city government in the preservation of baptismal records and other documents important to the city’s historical and cultural heritage, “which should be saved from further deterioration.”

        The NHI said it would send a researcher and conservator this month.