NHCP to restore quake-damaged heritage sites

MANILA, Philippines — The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) vowed to renovate the heritage sites damaged by the magnitude 7 earthquake that rocked parts of Luzon Wednesday.

In a statement, NHCP chairman Rene Escalante urged affected local government units to safeguard the relics in the damaged structures.

“We enjoin our local partners to safeguard the artifacts, retrieve important parts of the structure necessary for the restoration and provide NHCP with necessary documentations of the destroyed structures and the retrieved parts,” the commission said.

In the meantime, the commission said it would “give way to government agencies conducting relief operations and addressing the basic needs of the people.”

The commission vowed to help renovate the structures, which are protected by the Heritage Law.

“The NHCP, in collaboration with the local government units and cultural property owners, expresses its commitment to help rehabilitate the damaged historic sites and structures, many of them have been part of the life of the people for centuries,” the commission said.

The damaged sites are part of the country’s National Historical Landmarks and Important Cultural Properties, which are protected by the Heritage Law, the NHCP said.

In a statement yesterday, the Department of Tourism identified these heritage sites as damaged in the tremor – Sta. Catalina de Alejandria Church, a 19th century baroque church, and the 1920s era San Lorenzo Ruiz Shrine, both declared National Cultural Treasures in Abra; Ilocos Sur’s baroque church Vigan Cathedral, Bantay Bell Tower and the St. John the Baptist Church, as well as heritage houses like the Syquia House in Vigan city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.