The Cebu provincial government will help the Archdiocese of Cebu in rebuilding the three churches in southern Cebu that were severely damaged by the Oct. 15 earthquake.
Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who heads the Provincial Board (PB) committee on tourism, said Gov. Hilario Davide III will convene the provincial tourism and heritage commission to discuss the reconstruction efforts.
“We cannot deny that one of the more tour packages in southern Cebu features the 18 (Catholic) churches in towns that mostly have old structures. We will work closely with the heritage commission and the diocese,” she said.
She said the commission considers the churches as heritage and cultural sites and prime tourist destinations in tour packages in Cebu’s southern trail.
The churches in Sibonga, Dalaguete and Boljoon towns that were declared as national historical landmarks sustained damage from the 7.2-magnitude quake last week.
“We don’t know yet how much we will give since we’ll have to check the calamity fund. We are concerned not only because it is a tourist destination, but also as practicing Catholics,” she said.
Rehabilitation works on the Sta. Catalina de Alejandria Church in Carcar City and San Guillermo de Aquitania Church in Dalaguete town already started last Wednesday.
Getting bigger
“I already advised the different parish priests of the affected churches on what they will do,” Fr. Brian Brigoli, vice chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission on Cultural Heritage, said.
“As much as possible, the debris that fell will be recycled to preserve our heritage and for the use of its rehabilitation. As of now we could not give the amount since the rehabilitation has not started yet,” Fr. Brigoli said.
Fr. Brigoli added that the Church is asking for donations from local organizations to fund repairs. He said devotees of the Sta. Catalina Church are not allowed yet to use the main door.
They are only allowed to use the two side doors since the rehabilitation of the belfry near the main door is ongoing.
“As the aftershocks continue, the cracks are getting bigger in the belfry,” Brigoli said.
He added the clearing operation in San Guillermo de Aquitania Church also started.
“It is the parish priest’s choice if he would hire contractors or heritage experts for the rehabilitation of the church,” he said.
In a press statement, Davide said the provincial government will use the donations it received from private institutions to help defray costs in the repair and retrofitting of damaged structures in affected towns and cities.
First on the Capitol’s priority list is the repair of the school buildings and the water system in Dalaguete town, Davide said.
The Provincial Engineering Office sent two tanker trucks to help supply water in the town. /Peter L. Romanillos and Michelle Joy L. Padayhag, Correspondents