Cathedral museum safe from electrical hazards

The Visayan Electric Company (Veco) turned over the newly rewired Cebu Cathedral museum to the Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage led by its chairman Msgr. Carlito Pono on April 12.

The rewiring project started soon after the power firm and the Archdiocese of Cebu signed an agreement in Nov. 15, 2011 to upgrade the electrical fixtures of the museum.

The museum is now safe from electrical hazards.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in his message read by Msgr. Pono, called the Cathedral museum a living vessel where one can revisit the past and discover the present.

“The rewiring of the whole electrical system of the museum reflects the church’s commitment to safeguard her artistic cultural patrimony and the depository of the rich cultural heritage,” Palma said.

Veco executive vice president and chief operating officer Jaime Jose Aboitiz said it was the first time for Veco to do a project for a religious structure, having focused most of its corporate social responsibility projects on education.

Aboitiz committed to sponsor the students’ educational tour to the Cathedral museum starting this June.

Aboitiz said that by leading the Cebuano youths to the museum, they would appreciate better the history of Christianity in Cebu and deepen their religious faith.

Last April 12, Veco also signed an agreement for another rewiring project for San Roque Elementary School in Talisay City, Sta. Cruz Elementary School in Liloan town, northern Cebu, and Basak Elementary School in Mandaue City.

At least 16,000 students in Metro Cebu are targeted to benefit from the project.

The signing was graced by Sebastian Lacson, Veco SVP for engineering, and Talisay Schools’ Superintendent Woodrow Denuyo.

“A substantial amount has been set aside for these projects, but it’s still not enough. Schools, through DepEd, continue to search for partners for funding assistance,” Denuyo said.