NHCP hopes OP would allot funds to restore heritage churches

NHCP Chairman Rene Escalante said the heritage churches are the Holy Rosary Parish Church (Angeles), Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando, Saint James the Apostle Parish or Betis Church (Guagua), San Agustin Church or Lubao Church, and Sta. Monica Parish Church (Minalin). (File Photo: National Historical Commission of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on Thursday expressed hope that the Office of the President (OP) would consider appropriating funds for the restoration of at least five heritage churches in the province of Pampanga after they were damaged by a 6.1-magnitude earthquake earlier this week.

NHCP Chairman Rene Escalante said the heritage churches are the Holy Rosary Parish Church (Angeles), Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando, Saint James the Apostle Parish or Betis Church (Guagua), San Agustin Church or Lubao Church, and Sta. Monica Parish Church (Minalin).

“We are still waiting for word from Malacañang if they would appropriate a calamity fund for all these cultural heritage that were partly damaged by the earthquake,” Escalante said in a press conference in Malacañang.

He, however, said that if appropriation from a calamity fund is not feasible, another option would be to ask the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to include it in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2020.

“The worse-case scenario is if there would be no calamity fund, then we have no choice but to submit this to DBM for possible inclusion in the General Appropriation Act for fiscal year 2020,” Escalante said.

He said the exact amount needed for restoration of the five churches would depend on the final detailed engineering study on the damages caused by the powerful tremor.

“We still have to wait for the final detailed engineering study (DES) and the possible intervention. At this point, I still think it is premature to float any amount,” Escalante added.

He said the Archdiocesan Committee on Church Heritage in Pampanga may also consider including other churches for restoration, either through the calamity fund or the GAA.

“We asked the Archbishop because there is a committee, they are doing around also. We only visited five churches but I’m pretty sure there might be other churches that they want to be included,” Escalante said, adding that they want the Archdiocese to consolidate everything, just in case the DBM asks how much money they need.

Preserve and restore

Escalante, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of preserving and restoring the heritage churches, which have a place history.

“These are cultural properties that I think it is the duty of the state to preserve and restore kaya (that’s why) I consider it something that’s really urgent and I will really appreciate if the administration will appropriate (a) certain amount for this,” he said.

While the NHCP awaits word from the Executive, Escalante said the Archdiocese must also have funds set aside for the restoration of their churches.

“We also told the Archbishop that if ever you have funds intended for the restoration, they must also participate. We cannot rely completely on government funds because in the first place, these are their property,” he added.

At present, Escalante said the main priority is to ensure the safety of the people.

“So, if the structure is not safe, if there are signs of cracks, then better vacate the church for the time-being until such time na mag-settle na yung ground (that the ground settles),” he said.

According to Escalante, the previous administration immediately appropriated a calamity fund for the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Bohol in 2013.

“What happened last time in Bohol is right away, the administration appropriated the amount and then we were the ones who portioned it. So we don’t know exactly at this point what the plan of the DBM and the Office of the President is,” he said.