MANILA, (PNA) — The National Historical Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Historical Commission for the Philippines (NCHP), and the National Museum on Thursday has formed a task force to inspect and evaluate the damage in at least six centuries-old churches in Bohol and Cebu.
In a statement, the NCAA said the Heritage Task Force already flew to Bohol Thursday and then eventually to Cebu to identify properties that need to be secured and to draw up priorities for restoration.
The agency said the joint team of experts will coordinatewith the church, national, and local government agencies in the rescue and restoration operations.
“It (team) also seeks to estimate the amount of human andfinancial resources necessary and establish important linkages with stakeholders,” the NCAA noted.
“It will also provide a mobilization fund for the initialassessment, pending the national government’s decision on the wider rescue and rehabilitation efforts,” the agency added.
The NCAA noted that the task force was also tasked tosubmit an official report to Malacanang after its assessment.
The Church of San Pedro in Loboc and Church of Our Ladyof the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon, both in Bohol, were damaged by the quake.
Both churches are being conserved by the National Museumwith the funding of NCCA.
In Cebu, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño and the CebuMetropolitan Cathedral also sustained damage.
The NCCA noted that majority of the damaged churches inBohol and Cebu have been declared as the country’s national cultural treasures, national historical landmarks, and important cultural properties and are therefore, protected by the Heritage Law.