COA: Intramuros Admin kept 5,557 artworks idle, prone to deterioration since 2011

A total of 5,557 pieces of antiques, gold, and other museum collections at the disposal of the Intramuros Administration (IA) have been locked in storage and exposed to further deterioration since 2011 due to lack of exhibit areas and experienced curators, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its 2017 audit report.

The COA said the underutilized artworks account for 74 percent of the total 7,554 artifacts in the inventory of the IA. Only 1,997 of the agency's collections are displayed for the viewing public, the agency added.

"Various museum antiques, artifacts and collections were not displayed/exhibited and just kept idle in the storage rooms of the agency since June 30, 2011 in view of the absence of exhibit areas/places; thereby, defeating the purpose of collection and preserving artifacts in order to promote deeper appreciation of Philippine culture," state auditors said.

The COA said more than 2,440 artworks kept in storage can be found at the Casa Manila museum along Real Street, while a total of 3,112 pieces of art are located in the IA's offices at the Palacio del Gobernador building.

The COA recognized the stored artifacts will be displayed upon completion of the Museuo de Intramuros and at the San Ignacio Church. It, however, said the artifacts are still exposed to further deterioration due to the absence of adequate storage facilities and restoration materials.

"Although these items were maintained and stored in different locations, they are still subject to further deterioration because of non-conducive storage, fluctuating temperature, humidity, dirt, insects and the like," COA said.

"Verification and inquiry also revealed that conservation measures being performed were limited only to the examination of the condition of an artifact, maintenance, storage, and fumigation of documentary materials," it added.

Presidential Decree No. 1616 established the IA "for the orderly restoration and development of Intramuros as a monument to the Hispanic period of our (Philippine) history. As such, it shall ensure that the general appearance of Intramuros shall conform to Philippine-Spanish architecture of the 16th to the 19th century.”

The IA, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, also has a Cultural Properties Conservation Division (CPCD) responsible in the restoration, construction, landscaping and maintenance of works related to the walled city's fortifications, parks and plazas.

Other tasks of the CPCD include "archaeological excavation and documentation, as well as curatorial and conservation of IA's extensive museum collection," according to COA.

However, COA said the CPCD has two unfilled positions for Curator and Historic Sites Development Officer.

The COA said IA failed to conduct full conservation and curatorial activities, which includes the restoration of the artifacts to their original condition, for its collections due to the deficiencies in personnel and exhibit areas.

The COA urged IA to look for alternative exhibit areas, facilitate the hiring of a Curator and Historic Sites Development Officer, require personnel to attend trainings on the conservation of heritage assets, and expedite the purchase of supplies needed for the proper preservation of artifacts.

The IA, led by administrator Guiller Asideo, told COA that it had signed an agreement with Google Cultural Institute in making some museum pieces available online through its website. It also said the National Museum has agreed in principle for the use of one of its galleries for a public exhibition.

It added that the agency's procurement unit and human resources department have also expedited the purchase of supplies and the hiring of needed personnel, respectively.

Unimplemented branding campaign

The COA also flagged IA for its unimplemented 2016 branding campaign dubbed as "Promise and Possibilities in Intramuros" worth P18 million which aims to promote Intramuros as a premier tourism destination and encourage potential investors. The budget was later revised and lowered to P17.096 million in October last year.

However, state auditors found that only P450,112.19 of the total budget has been spent. The disbursement was allotted for 30 memo pads and six boxes of file envelope and bond papers with IA logos, and exhibit of the El Museo Del Prado En Filipinas.

The project's components such as walking tour brochures, online campaign, the purchase of print and branding materials, and special events have remained unimplemented also due to a lack of an officer-in-charge for the project, according to COA.

"Although specific activities were already identified under each revised project component, the achievement of project objectives could not be ascertained because there was no established evaluation criteria or performance indicator against which each activity should be measured," COA said.

The COA recommended that IA must create a committee tasked to handle the  implementation of the branding campaign until its completion.

In its comment, the IA management said the roll-out of the campaign is expected to start in 2018 following the IA Board of Administrators' approval of the official logo and identity guidelines. —ALG, GMA News