Ongoing restoration of the 16th-century Vigan Cathedral in Ilocos Sur on September 2022. (Photo by JMS)
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — At least P675 million would be needed to restore cultural properties that were damaged due to the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Luzon island in July, according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
The funding would be used to repair 24 heritage sites in Abra, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte, according to NCCA Chairperson Rene Escalante during the agency’s budget deliberations at the Senate Finance sub-committee on Wednesday.
The special restoration process for the cultural structures, which sustained damage during the Luzon earthquake, would be under the supervision of NCCA, said Escalante.
The tremor damaged important cultural properties, including a 16th-century cathedral at the heart of Vigan’s heritage district and an ancient watchtower in neighboring Bantay town in Ilocos Sur province.
The 19th century Baroque church of the Santa Catalina de Alejandria Parish in Abra province was also among the important cultural properties that incurred damage due to the quake.
Escalante said the restoration would take two years.
At least P405 million would be needed during the first phase in 2023 and P270 million for the second phase in 2024.