ANGELES CITY – Sen. Sonny Angara sees no line dividing the state from the church in the case of 24 heritage churches shut down in Pampanga because of damage wrought by the 6.1 magnitude earthquake last April 22.
In a statement, Angara said the centuries-old churches are considered “national treasures” that must be preserved for future generations.”
As such, he said he wanted them repaired immediately, even with the use of government funds.
“Regardless of one’s faith, these churches are part of our cultural and national heritage. It is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations,” Angara said.
He noted that Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act provides that “all cultural properties declared as national cultural treasures and national historical landmarks, sites or monuments shall be entitled to priority government funding for protection, conservation and restoration.”
Angara said the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has funds for the restoration of damaged heritage structures, even as he expressed support for the move of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) asking Malacañang to use calamity funds for the restoration of the damaged churches.
He also said the needed funds could be incorporated in the 2020 national budget.
Many of the damaged churches have been declared off limits pending their restoration.
At the Holy Rosary parish, Masses are held at the gym of an adjoining school or at the parish hall after cracks were noted in the ceiling of its church built in the mid-19th century.
