Davao City Hall to regain original neoclassical facade for centennial

DAVAO CITY — Davao City Hall is set to undergo restoration to its original neoclassical facade as part of preparations for its centennial year.

Office of Culture, Arts and Heritage head Oscar G. Casaysay and the City Information Office said the restoration will return the building to its original white color and include repairs to its windows.

“If we go through the restoration and repainting, we go back to its original color, which is white. We are also proposing putting up lights in front to illuminate the full facade at night,” Casaysay said in a statement.

The centennial building was designed in 1926 by renowned architect Juan M. Arellano and was originally built as the Davao Municipal Hall when the city was still a town. Although it was damaged during World War II and underwent renovations in 2017, its neoclassical facade remained untouched, preserving its historical character.

Officials said the restoration project has been consulted with and approved by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Architects and historians are expected to begin work by the second week of February.

“For 100 years, the City Hall has stood as a symbol of the city’s triumphs and the resilience of Dabawenyos,” Casaysay said.