NHCP: Malate Church needs restoration

The centuries-old Parish of Nuestra Seora de los Remedios, also known as Malate Church, is in need of restoration.

A study conducted on the church by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in 2009 revealed that its exterior walls and facade are in urgent need of restoration.

As a declared National Historical Monument, the Malate Catholic Church had to get NHCPs approval for all restoration or construction work.

According to a CBCP News Post, it was the said study that prompted the parish to come up with a five-year restoration program called 5-5-5 March of the Thousands.

The campaign aims to raise five million pesos (P5,000,000) each year to immediately address this problem.

Based on the NHCP investigation, the church structure is showing alarming signs like surface material losses through pulverization and disintegration; surface scaling that destroys newer plasters; biological and woody growths; rising dump and water seepage; and detached adobe components or falling debris.

The study also noted that the churchs adobe material (blocks of soft volcanic rock) has high moisture content, which means that it cannot withstand extreme and prolonged weather conditions.

It explains that Malate Churchs location facing Manila Bay exposes it even more to these elements.

The cement plaster used extensively for repairing the damage before the studys findings did more harm than good because the moisture trapped underneath the walls detached the plaster, it added.

NHCP is clear on the incompatibility of cement plaster and adobe walls.

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NHCP: Malate Church needs restoration