Bishop closes DavOr churches, Catholic schools pending safety checks - Manila Standard

Bishop Closes Churches and Schools in Davao Oriental

All parishes and Catholic schools in Davao Oriental have been ordered to stop using their churches and buildings until they are declared structurally safe.

This decision comes after the region was struck by magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 earthquakes in October.

"I am directing all the parish priests and parish administrators, especially those that were badly hit by the earthquake, not to use the church buildings until we receive clearance from the competent and designated team from the province, city or municipal office declaring that the buildings are safe,"

Bishop Abel Apigo of Mati emphasized that safety is the top priority, as stated in a circular issued on Saturday.

The directive was announced through a news release posted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News.

Author's summary: Bishop closes Davao Oriental churches and schools for safety checks.

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Manila Standard Manila Standard — 2025-10-12