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Thursday, February 24, 2005
Capitol ‘can spend’ for heritage church
Since the Boljoon Church has been declared a national treasure, the Cebu Provincial Government is no longer restricted to disburse money for its rehabilitation.
Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia said that with the declaration by the National Commission on Culture and Arts and the National Heritage Institute, the church has ceased to be merely a religious structure.
“It is now a structure that is part of the culture and heritage of the Filipino people so spending money for a cultural and heritage site is no longer considered as disbursement of money for religious purposes,” Garcia said.
Capitol, through the Provincial Heritage and Tourism Council, has committed to set aside at least P3 million for the restoration of the Boljoon church.
Prohibition?
Article 6, section 29 of the Local Government Code states that no public money shall be appropriated for the use of any sect and church, among others.
But Garcia explained that other churches like the Baclayon church in Bohol and some old churches in Ilocos were recipients of funds from the National Government because these have also been declared national heritage structures.
“But I’m sure there have been some old churches that have been restored using funds form the National Government. That alone should tell you that it is not violative of the separation between church and state,” Garcia said.
He further explained that the entry of the Provincial Government and the appropriation of money for the restoration of the church is within the general welfare clause of the Local Government Code.
“The preservation of culture is one of the basic functions of the local government unit so since this is part of the culture of the Cebuanos, then the Local Government Units is empowered to support and to preserve that structure,” Garcia added. (MBG)
(February 24, 2005 issue)
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