KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/09 June) — Fort Pikit in Pikit, North Cotabato is now considered one of the country’s national historical landmarks, North Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Talino-Mendoza said.
In a statement, Mendoza said the declaration of Fort Pikit as the newest addition to the national historical landmarks in the country was stated in a resolution recently passed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
“The long wait is over. We’ve waited for this,” said Joey Recemilla, head of the technical working group tasked by Mendoza to conduct research and documentation on the historical site.
Fort Pikit, located on a hill facing the national highway of Pikit town, was built in 1893 as part of the military fortifications in Mindanao by the Spanish colonial government.
The fort was also used by the American colonial government in the pacification campaign in Mindanao and by the Philippine Constabulary during the American period.
During the Second World War, the site was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army and recovered by the American forces in their advancement to liberate Mindanao.
Fort Pikit, according to Mendoza,is the first National Historical Landmark in North Cotabato.
Mendoza said she worked for at least a year with the office of Pikit municipal mayor Sumulong Sultan for the research and documentation of Fort Pikit’s history.
She also tasked Recemilla to draft the rehabilitation plan of Fort Pikit with funds coming from the national government.
On March 12 this year, the NHCP sent a delegation in North Cotabato to conduct validation, investigation of historical facts and site visit to Fort Pikit.
Two months later, it passed a resolution declaring the site as a National Historical Landmark, Recemilla said. (Malu Cadelina-Manar/MindaNews)