City engineers are now conducting a thorough assessment to determine the structural integrity of the centuries-old Cathedral Belfry in Dumaguete City — a historical and tourism landmark — following Tuesday’s Magnitude 7.2 earthquake that rocked Central Visayas.
An initial inspection Wednesday by Engr. JP Mariño of the City Engineer’s Office showed a possible shift of the four-story coral stone structure built during the Spanish era originally as a watch tower before it was re-designed as a belfry, said Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, Cathedral parish rector.
Cracks in the belfry’s foundation posts and walls were visible Wednesday, some gaps wide enough to warrant the decision to establish a cordon at its premises even though parishioners were still allowed at a certain distance to light candles and pay homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary at the grotto on the side of the tower.
On Tuesday, during the main shock, many coral stone blocks dislodged and rolled down the side of the tower.
The Cathedral Belfry, constructed in 1867, was initially used as a watch tower for sea pirates coming from nearby Mindanao.
Sometime in 1935, the Catholic Church built an additional upper level structure, converting it into a belfry whose original bell, when tolled rang all the way to nearby Valencia town, according to Buenaventura Balbuena, 88 years old, a Catechist and lay minister familiar with the Cathedral’s history.
According to him, a strong earthquake in 1925 had caused the tower to lean on its side but it was rebuilt later on.
Msgr. Heruela said the Church will await further instructions from the City Engineer’s Office before deciding on what action to take.
Meanwhile, a team of eight representatives from the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will be visiting Dumaguete on Friday for an evaluation of the damaged belfry, Msgr. Heruela said.
The NCCA’s visit will determine how it can help to repair the damaged historical, religious and tourism landmark of Dumaguete, he added. (PNA) LAP/JFP
