iloilo city lone district representative jerry treñas authored the republic act 1055 or the "an act declaring the jaro cathedral, molo church, the iloilo city central business district, fort san pedro, jaro plaza complex, molo plaza complex and plaza libertad complex" which declared historic sites in iloilo city which includes the former municipal hall as part of a cultural heritage tourism zone. this led to the restoration of the building. after the rehabilitation efforts of the building was completed, the national museum of the philippines declared the site as an "important cultural property" on february 17, 2017.