Aftershocks hamper start of church repairs

Aside from cash donations, heavy equipment is needed to jump start the restoration work on the five churches felled by the Oct. 15 earthquake in Cebu.

Architect Melva Java, who sits as a private sector representative in the Provincial Heritage Commission, said cranes are needed to enable engineers to thoroughly inspect the damages wrought by the quake on the churches and belfries in Cebu.

The commission met with Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale over the weekend.

The vice governor affirmed the Cebu provincial government’s commitment to help repair the churches.

Java said it would be unsafe for them and the engineers to check the belfries since aftershocks continue to rock the region.

She said she hopes the provincial government would provide the equipment for this purpose.

“The partnership of the Cebu provincial government and the Cebu Archdiocese is really strong and congenial,” Java said.

Magpale earlier called Msgr. Carlito Pono, head of the Archdiocese committee handling restoration of heritage sites, to relay the provincial government’s intention to assist the church.

The vice governor said the churches are considered heritage and cultural sites that are included in the province’s prime tourism destinations.

The commission identified the churches in Boljoon, Dalaguete, Dumanjug, Samboan and Sibonga, and the municipal hall of Argao, as needing immediate attention.

The Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio Church in Boljoon was declared a national cultural treasure by the National Museum.

Rehabilitation work on the Sta. Catalina de Alejandria Church in Carcar City and San Guillermo de Aquitania Church in Dalaguete town already started less than two weeks ago.

Fr. Brian Brigoli, vice chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission on Cultural Heritage, said he advised the parish priests of the affected churches on the best course of action to take to speed up the repairs, including recycling the debris of the churches.

Fr. Brigoli said the Archdiocese is soliciting donations from local organizations to fund repairs.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said the P7,002,000 in cash donations given to the province will be used to help repair schools and churches declared as heritage sites.

He said they can also be used to defray expenses of local government units whose buildings were damaged by the quake. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol and STC Intern Fresha Anne Endico with stories from Correspondents Peter L. Romanillos and Michelle Joy L. Padayhag