MIAG-AO Church and the damage from the earthquake. (Tara Yap/Capitol PIO)
ILOILO CITY – Cracks were found at Miag-ao Church, a Baroque church in Miag-ao, southern Iloilo province that is the only United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization World Heritage site in the Visayas.
These cracks were found following a series of earthquakes on Sunday, June 14. Cement on the base of the backside of the cross of the church’s façade has disintegrated.
Due to these cracks, the Tourism Office of the Miag-ao Municipal Government said precautionary measures have been undertaken.
“Representatives from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) are scheduled to conduct a post-earthquake inspection on June 17,” it said on a statement on Monday, June 15.
Pending NHCP and NCCA inspections, the public is temporarily restricted from accessing the church’s façade.
Immediate protective measures will be undertaken on the church pediment due to possible risks from aftershocks, strong winds, or heavy rainfall. A safety inspection will of the church’s interior will also be conducted in coordination with local building officials.
“We respectfully request the public’s cooperation and understanding as these precautionary measures are undertaken to ensure everyone’s safety and to help preserve one of Miag-ao’s most treasured cultural and historical landmarks,” the tourism office said.
Built in the late 1700s, the Miag-ao Church is one of the four Baroque churches in the country inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The other three are the San Agustin Church in Manila, the Santa Maria Church in Ilocos Sur, and the Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte.