CEBU CITY, (PNA) — Strong aftershocks have hampered the efforts to repair and restore at least five old churches and a municipal hall in Cebu which were damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Central Visayas last Oct. 15.
Aftershocks continue to rattle the region with the most powerful one felt on Saturday night registering magnitude 5.2 on the Richter scale.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that as of 4 a.m. Sunday, 3,198 aftershocks have been recorded since the quake that struck Central Visayas at 8:12 a.m. last Oct. 15.
Architect Melva Java, who sits as a private sector representative in the Cebu Provincial Heritage Commission, said that aside from cash donations, heavy equipment is needed to jump start the restoration work on the five churches.
Java said cranes are needed to enable engineers to thoroughly inspect the damages wrought by the quake on the churches and belfries in Cebu.
Java said it would be unsafe for them and the engineers to check the belfries since aftershocks continue to rock the region.
Java said Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale has affirmed the Cebu provincial government’s commitment to help repair the churches which are considered heritage and cultural sites that are included in the province’s prime tourism destinations.
She said she hopes the provincial government would provide the equipment for this purpose.
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 about 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 Cebu 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.