The Cebu Provincial Board has taken a decisive step towards cultural and economic recovery by formally requesting a significant budget to restore historical churches damaged in a recent major earthquake.
Provincial Board Approves Funding Request
On Monday, December 1, 2025, the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) gave its approval to a resolution that calls on Governor Pamela Baricuatro to allocate government funds for a crucial restoration project. The resolution, authored by Board Member Paz Rozgoni, seeks a total of P18 million in financial aid. This amount is intended to be distributed equally, with P2 million earmarked for each of the nine identified heritage churches in northern Cebu that sustained damage.
The structures were impacted by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the region on September 30, 2025. The Provincial Board emphasized that the damage to these centuries-old buildings is severe and that the necessary reconstruction efforts require resources far beyond what the local parishes can likely manage independently.
Heritage Sites as Economic Drivers
The resolution provides a clear justification for using public funds for religious structures by redefining their role. It categorizes the churches not solely as places of worship but as vital "cultural and heritage structures" and "major economic drivers" for the province. The provincial government frames their restoration as an integral part of the region's broader economic rehabilitation, particularly for the tourism sector.
"The faster these churches are restored, repaired, reconstructed and developed, the faster the tourism industry of the Province of Cebu can recover," the resolution stated. This move aligns with the board's earlier action on October 20, when it requested funding support from the national Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
The Nine Churches Slated for Restoration
The proposed funding covers nine specific locations in northern Cebu, which the resolution groups into tourist destinations and historic sites.
Tourist Destinations:
- Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church in Bantayan (partially damaged)
- Capelinha de Fatima Replica in San Remigio (severely damaged)
- St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish Church in Kawit, Medellin
- San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church in Malabuyoc
- Virgen de los Remedios Parish Church in Odlot, Bogo City
Historic Structures:
- Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan (built 1858)
- San Juan Nepomuceno Parish Church in San Remigio (built 1864)
- Archdiocesan Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer in Bogo City (original build 1859)
- San Isidro Labrador Parish in Tabogon (dates back to 1851)
Awaiting Executive Approval
While the Provincial Board has passed the resolution, its implementation is not yet guaranteed. The resolution functions as a formal request to the executive branch, and Governor Pamela Baricuatro must still approve the P18 million allocation. As of Tuesday, December 2, the Provincial Information Office had not released any statement regarding the governor's position on the matter.
If the governor approves the aid package, the rehabilitation work will proceed in coordination with the Archdiocese of Cebu and relevant national agencies. The Provincial Board now waits to see if the executive branch will support its strategy of prioritizing these heritage sites as a cornerstone of the province's disaster recovery plan.
