10 quake-hit Bohol churches restored: Bishop Uy

Restoration and repair of ten churches damaged by the 7.2-magnitude tremor that struck Bohol in 2013 have been completed, said Bishop Abet Uy of the Diocese of Tagbilaran on Tuesday, exactly six years after the earthquake which was the most devastating to hit the province in recent history.

Uy, in an interview with Radyo Veritas, thanked the national government for its support in restoring the churches particularly those considered as heritage sites which were rehabilitated under the supervision of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and National Museum.

“We are very grateful to God for having helped us in the restoration of the churches that were damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2013…The faithful can now start to attend holy masses again in these churches,” he said.

Repair and restoration of the following churches across Bohol were already completed:

St. Isidore Parish – Tubigon
Assumption of Our Lady Parish – Dauis
St. Nicholas Parish – Dimiao
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish – Baclayon
Holy Trinity Parish – Loay
St. Vincent Parish – Calape
St. James Parish – Batuan
Sta. Monica Parish – Alburquerque
St. Augustine – Panglao
St. Michael Parish – Clarin

Uy noted that the St. Michael Parish in Clarin was repaired with the support of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Meanwhile, restoration works of other churches including the Our Lady of Light Parish in Loon, San Vicente Ferrer Parish in Maribojoc, Santo Niño Parish in Cortes, and the century-old San Pedro Apostol Parish in Loboc were still ongoing.

Bohol was jolted by a strong quake on October 15, 2013, leaving 202 people dead and scores injured.

Authorities believed that more people would have died if the quake hit on a Sunday when churches across predominantly Catholic Bohol were filled. The tremor struck on a Tuesday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that the earthquake left P1.383 billion worth of damages to roads, bridges, school buildings, hospitals, and other public buildings.