VECO rewires Cathedral Museum

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayan Electric Company, Inc. (VECO) is sharing its resources to preserve the Cebu Cathedral Museum as heritage repository, housing valuable old religious artifacts in Cebu, through a rewiring project.

Last November 25, VECO Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime Jose Aboitiz signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Cebu Cathedral Museum Director Rt. Rev. Msgr. Carlito Pono for the rewiring project.

The power utility is not only concerned of consistent distribution of power, which plays a major role in the development of Cebu, but also sees the need to promote safety in the community.

Through VECO’s energy audit, old substandard electrical wires in the museum will be replaced with new ones. The replacement of wires prevents incidence of fire, especially that the museum’s building administrator preserved the century-old log foundations.

Msgr. Pono said the museum’s construction is irretraceable. The building was completed between 1730-1760 and has never undergone an energy audit or electric inspection.

“This is the first time it has undergone electrical rewiring. For years, the museum has been considered fire-hazard, where most of its religious artifacts were placed in the Archbishop’s Palace temporarily,” he said.

The rewiring project will be completed within the next three months. Pono expects the museum to be safe from fire with new electrical system in place. — /JMO (FREEMAN)