EVERYTHING was flattened in Leyte, says the Unesco team. Like Palo Cathedral

CENTURIES-OLD Guiuan Church in Eastern Samar

An initial framework for action has been drawn up by foreign and Filipino experts to repair and reconstruct precious heritage churches in Central Visayas, mostly in Bohol, severely damaged during the recent massive earthquake and Supertyphoon Yolanda.

There is a cohesive master plan to bring all actors together. There are termites all over the destroyed buildings and landmarks, and there is need for more documentation, and to beef up security in the areas around the churches.

In the recovery process, culture and art therapy are important.

The faith of the Filipino is heartening.

MOUSSA Elkadhum of Unesco Manila

These are some of the salient points discussed during the recent press briefing given by representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (Unesco) and its affiliated agencies. This was held at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in Intramuros, Manila.

Resources persons were architect Ma. Jocelyn Mananghaya of the International Council for Monuments and Sites (Icomos/NCCA); Stephen Kelley, an engineer and architect with Unesco; Aparma Tandon of the International Center for the Study and Preservation of Cultural Property (Iccrom); Vellorimo Suminguit of Unesco; and Jeremy Barns, director of the National Museum.

The Unesco and Iccrom technical persons were brought to the country by the Unesco Manila office headed by Moussa Elkadhum.

Read more:
Unesco experts ‘stunned’ by damage to heritage churches in Bohol, Cebu, Samar and Leyte