Davao City moves to restore original City Hall look

Davao City moves to restore original City Hall look 

Davao City is set to restore the iconic City Hall to its original neo-classical facade, in celebration of its centennial year.

Oscar G. Casaysay, Head of the Office of Culture, Arts, and Heritage (OCAH), told the City Information Office (CIO) that the restoration works will include painting the building back to its original white color, repairing windows, and installing lights to illuminate the full facade at night.

“If we go through the restoration and repainting, muadto ta balik near to the original. Which is white. Gi approve pod ang restoration work sa window. We are also proposing nga naa pod ilaw sa atubangan para makita ang full facade sa city hall,” he said. 

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

Arellano’s design for the Davao City Hall also became a prototype for other municipal structures. 

Casaysay added that the restoration project, which has been consulted with and approved by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), architects, and historians, will begin by the second week of February. 

Casaysay emphasized that for 100 years, the City Hall has stood as a symbol to the city’s triumphs and the resilience of Dabawenyos. 

“Kani ang saksi gyud. Ang silent witness na nakakita for 100 years og unsa gyud ang na agihan sa syudad sa Davao. Kung unsa gyud ang atoang syudad bago pa man nahimong syudad ug unsa pa ang historical milestone na nahitabo labi na sa kasaysayan sa Pilipinas, ug sa syudad, ug syempre unsa na sya karon. So mao tung nakita namo pwede pa gyud sya mag barog, 100 more years kung maayo lang gyud ang atoang pag alaga,” he told Kwentura: Kasaysayan ug Buhat sa Dakbayan program on Davao City Disaster Radio on January 22, 2026. 

As the city prepares to celebrate its centennial, the project is expected to be completed ahead of the Araw ng Davao festival, offering Dabawenyos and visitors a renewed glimpse of the city’s historic heart. CIO