The Cebu Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church (CACCHC) and the Cultural and Historical Affairs Office (CHAO), in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), have launched on-site training and retrieval operations to recover valuable ecclesiastical assets from churches in Daanbantayan, Bogo, and San Remigio that were heavily damaged by the September 2025 Bogo earthquake.
The initiative aims to safeguard sacred and historical church assets from further threats such as aftershocks, structural instability, theft, and vandalism.
The recovery process involves identifying cultural assets, removing them from hazardous environments, securing them in safe locations, and conducting cleaning, documentation, and proper storage.
A key component of the program is local capacity building. Through hands-on training, parish-based volunteers are being equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for cultural preservation and emergency response.
The effort seeks to establish a core group of Cultural Heritage First Responders capable of protecting and handling movable heritage assets during disasters and emergencies.