The City Council here has urged the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to investigate what seemed to be a pre-war tunnel found during an excavation for a drainage project on Roxas Street earlier this week.

The resolution was passed on Wednesday after Councilor Jason Villarosa, chairperson of the committee on tourism, expressed belief the discovery has a historical value that would need a study by the NHCP.

“We are asking the NHCP to conduct a study or send a team here in Bacolod,” he said.

While digging on Monday, workers of Anchorville Construction found the underground structure, with a clearance of about five and a half feet, adjacent to the Planta Centro Bacolod Hotel and Residences.

“The bricks were engraved with the name H. De Jalandoni. We assume the tunnel dates back to pre-war period. This discovery is a historical moment. This is part of history of Bacolod. They also found wheel of a calesa and bones of possibly of a horse,” Villarosa added.

Villarosa said the part of the road where the tunnel was found was not yet fully covered while the works are ongoing in the area.

“It would depend on the assessment of the NHCP on what to do. For the meantime, it would be put on hold,” he said. (PNA)