THE KABILIN CENTER, CEBU CITY–A significant milestone in strengthening the protection of the Philippines’ cultural heritage against disasters officially commenced yesterday with the launch of the Bantay Kabilin: Pilot Training Program on Disaster Risk Management for Cultural Heritage (DRMCH) under the Kabilin Partnership Program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) in partnership with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Philippines and with the support of the Japan Foundation in Manila.
Implemented through the Kabilin Partnership Program, the first-ever training in the country brings together representatives from local government units, heritage practitioners, museums, cultural institutions, churches, disaster risk reduction and management offices, civil society organizations, and community partners to develop a shared commitment toward safeguarding cultural heritage before, during, and after disasters.
As the country’s oldest city and one of its foremost centers of history, faith, and culture, Cebu City is home to centuries-old churches, historic landmarks, traditional communities, museums, and heritage districts that embody the rich story of the Filipino people. However, these invaluable cultural assets continue to face increasing threats from earthquakes, typhoons, flooding, fire, and the impacts of rapid urbanization. While disaster response systems have steadily improved over the years, cultural heritage protection has often remained outside mainstream disaster risk management planning. Recognizing this gap, the Bantay Kabilin Pilot Training Program seeks to equip local stakeholders with the knowledge, practical skills, and collaborative networks necessary to effectively protect heritage resources in times of crisis.
The initiative is made possible through the Strategic Initiative Grant of the North and Central Portfolio of the RAFI, reflecting the Foundation’s longstanding commitment to conserving Cebu’s cultural legacy.
Developed in partnership with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Philippines, the training combines internationally recognized conservation principles with community-based disaster risk management approaches tailored to the local context of Cebu. The program strengthens collaboration among local government units, emergency responders, church administrators, museum professionals, heritage advocates, and development partners to ensure that cultural heritage becomes an integral component of resilience planning.
Beyond technical capacity building, the pilot training seeks to cultivate a culture of shared stewardship by reinforcing that protecting cultural heritage is also protecting identity, collective memory, and community resilience.
The opening program gathered key leaders, heritage experts, and development partners who reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening disaster resilience for cultural heritage in the Philippines.
Opening the program, Ar. Kenneth Javier Tua, PhDAgSci, Chief Project Officer of the Kabilin Partnership Program, emphasized that Cebu City’s rich historical and cultural landscape makes it an ideal venue for piloting the national training course. He encouraged participants to work collectively in protecting heritage from growing disaster risks through preparedness, collaboration, and shared responsibility. He likewise expressed his appreciation to RAFI, ICOMOS Philippines, the Japan Foundation in Manila, the Kabilin Center, and the various partner institutions whose support made the initiative possible.
Representing ICOMOS Philippines, Ar. Giuseppe Luigi H. Abcede delivered the partners’ message, highlighting the importance of collaboration among heritage organizations, government institutions, technical experts, and local communities in translating internationally recognized conservation principles into meaningful local action. He reaffirmed ICOMOS Philippines’ commitment to supporting initiatives that build resilient heritage communities and strengthen professional capacity in cultural heritage conservation.
Delivering the keynote address, Ms. Amaya Cristina A. Fansler, President and Chief Executive Officer of RAFI, emphasized that protecting cultural heritage must go hand in hand with disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. She highlighted the importance of aligning international standards with local realities and underscored the value of partnerships among government, heritage professionals, communities, and development organizations. She concluded by encouraging participants to build lasting networks and shared commitment toward a more resilient future for Philippine cultural heritage.
The opening program also introduced the learning journey that participants will undertake over the succeeding weeks.
Ar. King Rosales, Project Lead and Focal Point, presented an overview of the Bantay Kabilin: DRMCH Pilot Program, outlining its objectives, structure, and expected outcomes. This was followed by Mr. Joselito H. Corpus, Project Director of Kabilin: DRMCH, who discussed the overall program framework, learning methodology, and participant journey throughout the training. The Bantay Kabilin: DRMCH Pilot Program marks the beginning of a long-term effort to establish a nationally recognized training model that integrates cultural heritage conservation with disaster risk management. Through sustained collaboration among RAFI, ICOMOS Philippines, government agencies, heritage institutions, and local communities, the initiative aims to strengthen the country’s capacity to safeguard its irreplaceable cultural heritage while building more resilient communities for future generations.