To rebuild destroyed churches in Bohol Phl envoy, bishop, guv, others ink support pact

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — A Declaration of Acknowledgement of Support was signed on Saturday for the task of rebuilding the centuries-old churches, or cultural heritage sites, destroyed by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Bohol last October 15.

The signatories of the declaration were Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Cuisia, Jr., Gov. Edgar Chatto and Bishop Leonardo Medroso. Lucille Karen Isberto of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Maria Serena Diokno of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Margaret Lacson-Ecarma of the Washington-based Bohol Restoration Group Inc. and Ma. Socorro Bautista of the Defending Family Values Foundation Inc.

Others were representatives of the National Museum, ICOMOS Philippines, Agencia Espaniola de Cooperacion para el Desorollo, Escuella Taller de Filipinas Foundation Inc., Japanese delegation and other group of experts.

Cuisia visited Bohol and met with Chatto, Medroso and other partner-groups primarily for the restoration and reconstruction works of the destroyed churches in the capital city and the towns of Dimiao, Loboc, Baclayon, Dauis, Cortes, Maribojoc, Loon, Clarin and Inabanga.

The ambassador told The Freeman that the Filipinos in the U.S. and the American community were one in their concerted efforts in restoring and rebuilding the heritage churches in Bohol.

Medroso, for his part, had earlier been appealing for more help from the national government and other agencies but he lamented over the seeming slow response, while the focus of rehabilitation efforts was somehow diverted to the Yolanda-devastated Leyte province and Tacloban City.

The national government however, via Budget Secretary Butch Abad, recently assured the clergy here of more than P600 million in assistance for the restoration and reconstruction of the destroyed old churches.

The Diocese of Tagbilaran, legal owner and chief administrator of the cultural heritage sites, has called on the national cultural agencies and private institutions or individuals to collaborate with the Church in the massive task of restoring and reconstructing the churches, stated the signed declaration.

It added: "The invitation of the Diocese of Tagbilaran to the Honorable Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States has thus opened the opportunity for the following groups to come together in response to the urgent call from the Bishop of Tagbilaran to help in expediting the restoration of these damage churches."