LAOAG CITY, July 29 (PIA) – After her visit in Ilocos Sur and situation briefing with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Abra, Senator Imee Marcos flew to Ilocos Norte to inspect damages brought by the strong earthquake that hit Northern Luzon on Wednesday.
 
She proceeded to the Sinking Bell Tower, a tourist attraction in Laoag City to check on the minor damages it sustained after the massive quake.

Aside from the bell tower, the most-visited tourist site – St. Augustine Church in Paoay was not also spared as several bricks fell off due to the strong shaking which was felt at Intensity V.
 

Both heritage sites sustained minor damages as they have undergone structural retrofit to preserve its structure from any disaster.
 

“Retrofitting Laoag’s famous Sinking Bell Tower with new steel bars and concrete can still save the structure and its value to domestic and international tourism,” the senator said.
 

Marcos has also consulted with Provincial Engineer Luciano Domingo Jr., Provincial Tourism Officer Aianree Raquel, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Corazon Lilian Rin, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Marcel Tabije, Architect Rex Hofileña, and the Diocesan Heritage Committee of Laoag City on the other damages seen on heritage sites and infrastructures in the province. 
 
During the situation briefing in Abra with the President on Thursday, the senator also suggested the conduct of “digital X-ray” to assess the extent of the damages that were sustained by cultural heritage sites in affected regions. (JCR/AMB/MJTAB/PIA Ilocos Norte)