Catholic Church lauds restoration of old churches in Ilocos Norte

St. Augustine Church in Paoay

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The Diocese of Laoag lauded efforts of the provincial government jointly with  National Historical Institute and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in protecting and rehabilitating heritages sites including century-old churches here.

To date, several restoration activities are lined up, among these are the St. Augustine Church in Paoay, St. Joseph church in Dingras and St. Anne parish in Piddig.

Last year, rehabilitation of St. Joseph church’s façade began and early this year, the Dingras government helped in the improvement of the front lawn and its landscape with one of the most picturesque façades in the country.

“Thanks for those who supported the reconstruction and restoration of our churches which are just some of the few remaining in the country after several old churches in Visayas and Mindanao were hardly hit by typhoon,” Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba said.

As other old churches in Ilocos Norte such as the St. Anne of Piddig needs immediate rehabilitation, Bishop Mayugba hopes the diocese will again spearhead a fund raising activity to restore the church walls  and trusses which are about to collapse and may out to risk the lives of church goers.

“We are planning to institute major restoration efforts. It’s a big project and it demands a lot of funding. We hope that we can do it the soonest possible time,” he added.

In Paoay, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has already sought the assistance of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for the proposed restoration and retrofitting of the St. Augustine church and convent ruins in support of the provincial government’s effort to boost its Metro Ilocos Norte tourism master plan.

The restoration of churches is also being eyed as a way of promoting and enhancing Ilocos Norte’s heritage and pilgrimage sites.

Through the TIEZA, which is mandated to select and approve tourism infrastructure projects for funding, the Ilocos Norte government has proposed the preservation and strengthening of these national cultural treasures within the tourism enterprise zones in coordination with the National Museum and other concerned agencies.