Miagao Church restricts access after Antique quake

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Public access to portions of the historic Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish (Miagao Church) has been temporarily restricted following a magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck off Antique late Sunday night, June 14.

The Miagao Municipal Tourism Office announced the precautionary measures on Monday, June 15, while awaiting a post-earthquake assessment by heritage and structural experts.

Based on an initial evaluation by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), access to the church façade has been restricted due to potential risks posed by aftershocks and adverse weather conditions.

The NHCP also recommended protective measures for the church pediment as a precaution against possible structural damage.

A safety inspection of the church interior will be conducted in coordination with local building officials to assess the condition of the structure.

Representatives from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the NHCP are scheduled to inspect the centuries-old church on June 17.

The advisory followed a magnitude 4.7 tectonic earthquake recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) at 11:34 p.m. Sunday.

PHIVOLCS reported that the quake’s epicenter was located 48 kilometers southwest of Anini-y, Antique, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The tremor was felt in several parts of Iloilo and neighboring provinces, including Iloilo City.

Local authorities appealed for public cooperation as assessments continue, stressing that the restrictions are intended to ensure public safety and help preserve one of the province’s most important cultural landmarks.

The Miagao Church is among the Philippines’ most significant heritage structures.

Completed in 1797, the Baroque-Romanesque church is renowned for its distinctive façade, which blends indigenous, Chinese, Muslim, and Spanish influences.

The church was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines.

As one of Iloilo’s premier cultural and tourism destinations, the church attracts thousands of pilgrims, tourists, and heritage enthusiasts each year.

Authorities said further recommendations will be issued after the joint assessment by heritage conservation and engineering experts.