Restoration of Centuries-old Sto. Nino de Cebu Basilica’s belfry to Start this Month

A representative of the Augustinian community said that the restoration of the belfry of the centuries-old Basilica del Sto. Nino in Cebu City, which was originally set last January, will finally start this month.

The basilica’s belfry collapsed at the height of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Oct. 15, 2013 that shook Cebu and Bohol.

Fr. Harold Rentoria, head of the Technical Committee on the tower’s restoration, said that an architect from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) said that there was a “minimal glitch” in the site restoration plan.

He said that the NHCP is currently finalizing the master plan for the restoration process, which is hoped to start this month.

Rentoria said that last November, a conference was held in Cebu and Bohol where experts in the field of architecture and engineering presented their studies on the Basilica and Fort San Pedro following the Philippine Standard on Conservation.

NHCP also presented its site restoration plan.

“During the expert’s conference, there were a lot of suggestions and comments from the experts, who came from the different parts of the world. It took them some time to implement the recommendations as they based on the additional studies for the revision of the plan,” said Rentoria.

He said that he made a follow-up with NHCP after the observance during Holy Week and the agency replied that the restoration will start this month.

“We had some minimal glitch with our consultant. The Church based on our test we already have a design strategy,” said Rentoria.

“We will post the project for bidding by next week. Bidding will take at least three weeks then we will know the contractor to do the project. We are sorry for the delay and I hope the parishioners understand this minor delay,” the NHCP said. (PNA) CTB/EB/PJN