MANILA, (PNA) — The national government is now working on the rehabilitation of centuries-old churches in Bohol and Cebu heavily damaged by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake last Tuesday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a press briefing on Friday, said the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) are now assessing the extent of damage to the churches which were built during the Spanish colonial period.
“They have to report back. They’re working with Secretary Mon Jimenez on rehabilitation and reconstruction of heritage sites,” she said.
Valte also explained an earlier statement made by President Benigno S. Aquino III that the government would have to check first the legal basis for funding the reconstruction.
“The President did express that particular note. There was a legal question that has to be answered,” she said.
“When the President was asked about it, hindi pa lumabas NCCA, not for lack of understanding, he just wanted to make sure na pwede… It’s in the law yung sa heritage sites, you have to sift through alin yung heritage sites at alin yung hindi,” she added.
Earlier, the Palace called on experts to help in the restoration process.
Of the 10 churches damaged, eight were in Bohol, including the famous Baclayon, Loboc and Loon churches.
“We also made that call for restoration experts to help. No hard figures yet on what it would entail,” Valte said.