VIGAN CITY, July 29 (PIA) – The provincial government of Ilocos Sur has received assistance not just from the national government but also from private groups to inspect and assess the damages of heritage structures in Ilocos Sur hit by the 7.0-magnitude quake on Wednesday.

In an interview with provincial tourism officer John Noel Andaya on Thursday, he confirmed that they have received assistance from the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP).
 
“A team from the ASEP, led by Engineer Ernesto Malicad, Jr., will be assisting the engineering offices in the province in their inspection of all the heritage structures damaged by the earthquake,” Andaya said.
 
He added that the Provincial Tourism Development and Promotion Office is keeping in touch with all local tourism offices and likewise sent an inspection and assessment of tourism-related establishment templates to check on the situation in each municipality/city.

During the post-earthquake risk assessment and analysis meeting of the provincial government officials and heads of concerned provincial and regional offices, Governor Jeremias “Jerry” Singson said it is important to tap the experts when it comes to the preservation of culture and heritage in the province.
 
Vice Governor Ryan Luis Singson also mentioned during the meeting to reach out to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or the UNESCO, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and/or the Spanish Embassy for any assistance so that not only the damaged structures are inspected but all cultural structures to prevent further damages in case another quake happens.

Known to be a heritage province, heritage structures in Ilocos Sur including some ancestral houses and parish churches were damaged by the earthquake including the Bantay Watch Tower which was severely damaged.
 
In an interview with Fr. Lovel Soller of the St. Augustine Parish Church in Bantay town on Wednesday, he expressed his gratitude for the immediate action of the government regarding the restoration of the watch tower.
 
Fr. Soller said that the Tour Guides Association of Ilocos Sur, Inc., led by its president, Michael Ryan Astom, visited the structure on Wednesday and said they will reach out to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
 
Astom said they have already contacted the TIEZA and sent the necessary documents to ask for their immediate assistance.
 
“Ang ine-expect natin na tulong from TIEZA ay full restoration ng tower. Kagaya ito sa Santa Maria Church noon, which we asked for the assistance of the TIEZA, the National Historical Commission and the NCCA, nagtulong-tulong sila para ma-rehabilitate ito during the pandemic. Siguro kung hindi tayo umaksyon noon ay malamang isa ito sa pinaka-apektado dahil sa lindol,” he said in an interview on Thursday.
 
With its wide linkage in the national and international offices, the provincial government assures to continue its immediate actions to restore or rehabilitate the damaged heritage structures in Ilocos Sur. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)