Vigan City Mayor Bonito Singson announced in a press conference with National Commission for Culture and the Arts on Monday, 24 April that most of the structures in Vigan City damaged by the earthquake will be finally repaired.

This after NCCA barred the Vigan City local government unit from touching or repairing any of the damaged structures after the July 2022 magnitude 7.3 earthquake in the city.

Singson clarified the scope and responsibility of the NCCA, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the National Museum considering that Vigan City is one of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Sites.

“For the NCCA, NCCA is now the regulatory agency for all the structures, if there is any work to be done in the structures, these are usually coordinated now with the NCCA,” says Ivan Anthony Henares, Commissioner of NCCA and Program Director of UNESCO in the Philippines.

“Good enough we were able to reconnect with the National Agencies, on cultural assets and treasures, so now more or less we see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Singson said.

Singson added that the Vigan LGU can now proceed on engaging with qualified architects and engineers to conduct an in-depth study on and consult with the Catholic Church regarding the Vigan Cathedral.

The Vigan City Mayor also pledged that the damaged private houses are part of the history of Vigan and will be repaired.