PROJECT BRIEF:

Exercise: HGDG NO. 2024-XX

Subsector: Social
Project Brief On The Improvement of Lumang Simbahan Vicinity

I. Name and type of project: Improvement of Lumang Simbahan Vicinity

This project involves the development of our heritage zone – within the vicinity of the Lumang
Simbahan.

Proponent : MAYOR’S OFFICE – TOURISM DIVISION

Location : Municipality of Sablayan, Occ. Mindoro

II. Activity Component:

Office/
Activity Schedule
Person in Charge
Complete Demolition of the Old 2024-2025
Poblacion Elementary School Engineering Office/ Tourism Office
Building
Rehabilitation of the Disaster 2024-2025
Engineering Office/ Tourism Office
Resilient Room
Establishment of parking lot 2024-2025 Engineering Office/ Tourism Office
Construction of path walks and 2024-2025 Engineering Office/ Tourism Office
pavers
Landscaping 2024-2025 Engineering Office/ Tourism Office
Construction of brick/concrete fence 2024-2025 Engineering Office/ Tourism Office
Construction of meditation 2024-2025 Engineering Office/ Tourism Office
kiosk/rest areas
Construction of high quality, gender 2024-2025
Engineering Office/ Tourism Office
sensitive comfort rooms
Construction of Heritage Zone 2024-2025 Engineering Office/ Tourism Office
marker
Installation of façade lighting 2024-2025 Engineering Office/ Tourism Office

III. Estimated Cost of Resource Inputs:

Activity Amount
Complete Demolition of the Old Poblacion Elementary
School Building
Rehabilitation of the Disaster Resilient Room
Establishment of parking lot
Construction of path walks and pavers
Landscaping
Construction of brick/concrete fence
Construction of meditation kiosk/rest areas and shades
Construction of high quality, gender sensitive comfort
rooms
Construction of Heritage Zone marker
Installation of façade lighting
TOTAL

IV. Justification of the Project

Believed to have been constructed after 1832, the Lumang Simbahan is the oldest church in
Sablayan which was built using coralline stones bonded by lime mortar, under the care of the
Order of the Augustinian Recollects with San Sebastian as the patron saint. This ancient
church, which is located at the foot of Bundok Bayan, also known as Presing Park, was used as
a shelter during the Japanese occupation and pirate raids in addition to being a place of
worship for Christians.

After being severely damaged by natural disasters, the old church was restored in 1954 by the
Divine World Missionaries, under the direction of Fr. SVD Adeodato Malabanan, along with

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Exercise: HGDG

Fr. Fr. Erich Stottok, SVD. The church building deteriorated over time and was eventually
closed because it constituted a risk to public safety.

The church was restored once again in 2018 through the funding grant of National Historical
Commission of the Philippines. Today, the newly restored church is one of the favorite places
to be visited by the tourists due to its location and proximity to Presing Park.

The initial Municipal Building "Munisipyo" of Sablayan was constructed directly in front of the
Lumang Simbahan; for this reason, the barangay is known as the "Lumang Bayan," which
served as the municipality's previous center of administration. The Poblacion Elementary
School was also housed on this property; however, it was later moved, leaving behind a number
of dilapidated and unusable classrooms.

Having a strong historical significance, portions of Barangay Poblacion – specifically the

Lumang Simbahan Area was declared as a Heritage Zone through General Ordinance 2018 -
GO007, “Ordinance Declaring Identified Portions of Barangay Poblacion as the Municipality
of Sablayan Heritage Zone, and its Administration, Defining its Functions and for Other
Purposes”.

In 2020, the Mangyan Cultural Center was built in front of the Lumang Simbahan. Despite this
progress, the area still requires significant development to realize its full potential. The
enhancement of the heritage site vicinity (Lumang Simbahan and Magyan Cultural Center site)
may be achieved through the following:
 Complete Demolition of the old poblacion elementary school building
 Rehabilitation of the disaster resilient room – the room may be used as a souvenir shop
and gallery related to the history of the place, this will help promote and preserve our
history not only to the visitors, but most specially to the local residents of Sablayan
 Enhancement of parking lot for the church goers and visitors –installation of proper
signage and parking markers
 Construction of path walks and pavers – only a small portion in front of the Lumang
Simbahan was paved bringing discomfort to church visitors and tourist when visiting
the area
 Landscaping – planting of trees and construction of outdoor fountains to enhance the
overall experience of visitors
 Construction of brick/concrete fence – to replace the heavily damaged wire fence of the
heritage site which has become an eyesore for the visitors
 Construction of meditation kiosk or rest areas and shades for the visitors
 Construction of high quality, gender sensitive rest rooms for the church goers and
visitors at a strategic area within the vicinity. Churchgoers, particularly women, find the
current location of the restroom unsettling since it requires them to walk down an
unpaved road that leads to the back side of the building without proper lighting.
 Construction of Heritage Zone marker since there are no markers constructed since its
declaration as a heritage site in 2018
 Installation of facade lighting to bring light to the pathway and enhance the appearance
of the entire heritage site.

V. Target Beneficiaries
This project aims to benefit not only the Sablayeños, but also the visitors of our municipality
who help increase the economic activity in Sablayan. This project will also help preserve and
promote our history and culture for the future generations.

VI. Target Output or Success Indicators

Activity Output/Success Indicator

Complete Demolition of the Old
Poblacion Elementary School Building
Rehabilitation of the Disaster Resilient
Room
Establishment of parking lot
Construction of path walks and pavers
Completely demolished old school buildings
Complete rehabilitation of the disaster resilient
room
Parking lot established
Path walks and pavers constructed

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Exercise: HGDG
Landscaping
Construction of brick/concrete fence
Construction of meditation kiosk/rest
areas and shades
Construction of high quality, gender
sensitive comfort rooms
Construction of Heritage Zone marker
Installation of pathway and façade
lighting
Examples of Pathway and Façade lights:
Examples of Path walks and pavers:
Completion of landscaping
Brick/Concrete fence constructed
Meditation kiosk/rest areas constructed
High quality, gender sensitive comfort rooms
constructed
Heritage Zone Marker constructed
Pathway and Façade lights installed
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Exercise: HGDG

Examples of landscaping, lighting, and brick/concrete fence:

Trellis shades may be constructed surrounding (or leading to) the Mangyan Cultural Center:
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Exercise: HGDG

VII. Possible Risks or External Factors that Could Frustrate the Realization of
the Project
All of the activities stipulated in this project are for construction of facilities and further
development of tourism/heritage sites. Extreme bad weather condition may affect the timely
completion of the activities stipulated herein.

VIII. Expected Private Sector Response

The community of Sablayan are expected to support programs and project that help promote
and preserve our history and culture. Private sectors are expected to help with the promotion
of the heritage site by putting up posters in their establishments and offering tour packages
that include the Heritage Site.

Prepared by: Noted by:

RONDA JANE S. NAVARRO ATTY. MELVIE SILVERIO - DACAYANAN

Tourism Operations Officer II Supervising Tourism Officer

Noted by: Approved by:

SYLVIA T. SALGADO WALTER B. MARQUEZ

Senior Tourism Operations Officer Municipal Mayor

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