Casa Real nears completion

LINGAYEN – The third and final phase of the restoration of the historic Casa Real (royal house) here is now underway as the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) will soon transfer the amount of P33.9 million to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fund the completion of the project.

HISTORIC - The facade of being restored Casa Real (Royal House) in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
The multi-million pesos project materialized under the intercession with the national government
 by Pangasinan Second District Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil. (Photo Credit:
Provincial Government of Pangasinan)

During the recent Sangguniang Panlalawigan regular session, a resolution authorizing Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino III to ink pacts with TIEZA and DPWH was passed by the provincial board to pave the way to the full restoration of the old Spanish Casa Real.

Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Maria Luisa Elduayan said the memorandum mentioned in the approved resolution will serve as basis to formalize the transfer of fund from TIEZA to DPWH who will implement the final restoration phase of the building.

Elduayan said the third phase of the restoration includes the development of the back portion of the building and the completion of the interior designs.

“The first phase of the project was funded by the provincial government amounting to P5 million, while the second phase was funded by DPWH amounting to P30 million,” Elduayan said

The first and second phase of the project have been completed.

 She said the province targets to open the Casa Real, which will serve as a museum, by mid-year of 2018 as soon as the fund was transferred and the implementation of the third phase has begun.

“Na-delay kasi talaga ang third phase ng restoration ng Casa Real dahil napalitan ang chief operating officer ng TIEZA dahil we are dependent on the TIEZA grant for the third phase of the restoration,” Elduayan explained.

To man the museum after the completion of the Casa Real’s restoration, Elduayan said the PTCAO is proposing for the creation of organizational team which will handle the provincial museum to be housed at the Casa Real.

Elduayan said collection of artifacts and other historical and cultural objects related to the province of Pangasinan will be displayed in the museum.

Casa Real, which served as the seat of the provincial government during the Spanish colonization period in the country, is one of the most important historical structures built in Pangasinan way back in 1840. (EMBS/PIA-1, Pangasinan)