With three (3) Bohol churches’ restoration set to be completed by early 2021, Cong. Edgar Chatto has expressed his thanks to the national government and the Dioceses of Tagbilaran and Talibon for their help in the rehabilitation and restoration projects in Bohol, particularly the churches.
The Loboc Church Complex, Loon Church Complex, and Maribojoc Church Complex are undergoing restoration under the supervision of the National Museum (NM), information from the Office of Cong. Chatto said.
Minutes after the October 15, 2013 earthquake, Chatto who was then governor of the province. convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to establish the PDRRMC Command Center.
The PDRRMC Command Center immediately responded to concerns related to communications, search and rescue, and emergency response.after which, the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) in coordination with the Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs) carried out a damage assessment and needs analysis (DANA), which was used as the basis for an informed approach for the drafting of the restoration plan for damaged structures in Bohol.
The Bohol Earthquake Recovery Plan was drafted by the data team of the Provincial Planning and Development Office led by Atty. John Vistal. The plan included the identification of funding sources that will be tapped to fund the restoration of damaged churches here.
Meetings between the government and church leaders then ensued to execute the plan for Bohol churches restoration with the help of various volunteer organizations.
A meeting at the Department of Tourism’s DOT) Makati office sealed the church restoration proposal of Bohol province and Diocese of Tagbilaran.
Moreover, Chatto met with then DOT Sec. Ramon Jimenez, then Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Butch Abad, Bishop Leo Medroso, Rev. Fr. Ted Milan Torralba, NM Executive Director Jeremy Barns and National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Director Maris Diokno to discuss further the restoration plans of quake-damaged Bohol churches.
The government may only spend its funds on the restoration of churches as long as the structures are declared as National Cultural Treasures (NCT) or Important Cultural Properties (ICP).
The DBM, in coordination with the Provincial Government and church authorities, finally approved over P1 billion in initial funds divided to the two(2) implementing agencies that will be spent for damaged Bohol and Cebu churches and towers.
The agencies tasked to implement the restoration are the NM and the NHCP, according to the information from the office of Rep, Chatto.
Furthermore, Chatto also recognized the strong support of Bohol dioceses under the leadership of Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran and Bishop Danilo Parcon of Talibon to the continuing restoration program of churches in the province.
The NHCP is the one that implemented the restoration of the Baclayon Church (Immaculate Conception Parish Church), Dauis Church (Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church), and Santissima Trinidad Parish in Loay.
Meanwhile, the NM restored and turned over other important structures such as the Cortes Church Complex (NCT), Dimiao Church Complex (NCT), Panglao Church Complex (ICP), Alburquerque Church Complex (ICP), Punta Cruz Watchtower (NCT), Balilihan Watchtower (NCT), Loay Watchtower (NCT), Panglao Watchtower (NCT), Inang-angan Stone Stairways (NCT), Maribojoc Stone Stairways (NCT), Old Panglao Municipio (ICP), and the old Bohol Provincial Capitol (ICP) now converted into the National Museum Bohol together with the rehabilitation of Plaza Rizal and the Esquela de Ninos y Ninas which used to house the old Provincial Library.
It can be recalled that Chatto, during his first tour of duty as first district representative, before becoming Bohol governor, facilitated the release of funds to repair the roof of Baclayon Church through NHCP. The release of funds happed after the church was declared an NCT.