Three century-old tunnels here have been recognized as important cultural properties.

Municipal tourism operations officer Erwin Suguitan confirmed this on Friday, as his team led efforts to prepare the local cultural inventory for submission to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for inclusion in the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP), a registry of all cultural properties in the country.

PRECUP serves as a repository of the country’s dynamic culture, to aid in its development, promotion and dissemination.

“We are thrilled to announce a significant new addition to our local cultural inventory,” Suguitan said in a statement.

He said the tunnels were constructed in 1925 during the American era and are situated in Barangay P.F. Alviar and Barangay Abkir.

“They are the crucial lifeline of farmers, ensuring the flow of life-sustaining water from Vintar reaches fields as far as Pasuquin,” Suguitan said.

He said the tunnels built in the north of the Bislak River might appear to be simple canals, but they are key engineering structures that have influenced the community’s agriculture for over a century.

To highlight their cultural importance, the three tunnels, which are currently owned and managed by the National Irrigation Administration, will be included as centennial structures vital to the municipality’s agricultural sector.

“Their continued functionality is proof of their engineering and historical value. Their official inclusion (as centennial structures) ensures they receive the necessary safeguarding for future generations,” he said.

Other landmark sites documented in the municipality include the Vintar dam, St. Nicholas de Tolentino Roman Catholic Church, the historic Gabaldon and Nagtalon buildings, Via Crucis in Barangay 4, and the town’s old municipal building.

Vintar local officials, led by Mayor Richard Degala, said the town’s cultural properties will be protected by boosting cultural heritage awareness, especially among the youth. (PNA)