Tacloban City Philippines Temple
President Russell M. Nelson announced the construction of another temple for the Philippines on October 3, 2021. The Tacloban Philippines Temple will be constructed in the Eastern Visayas region of the country.[1][2]
The Tacloban area, located on the northeastern tip of Leyte Island, was struck by deadly Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, causing loss of life and homes. Hundreds of Filipino Latter-day Saints joined the broader Church humanitarian efforts to provide relief and rebuild homes.
The Republic of the Philippines is an archipelagic country that consists of around 7,641 islands that are broadly categorized under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Currently operating in the Philippines are the Manila Philippines Temple and the Cebu City Philippines Temple. The Urdaneta Philippines Temple, the Alabang Philippines Temple (a second temple for the greater Manila area), the Davao Philippines Temple, the Bacolod Philippines Temple, and the Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple are in the planning and construction stages. In October 2022, President Nelson announced the construction of two more temples, the Naga Philippines Temple and the Santiago Philippines Temple. In April 2023, he announced the construction of the Iloilo Philippines Temple and the Tuguegarao City Philippines Temple; in October the Laoag Philippines Temple was also announced.
Since missionary work began in earnest in the Philippines, Church growth there has maintained an accelerated pace. Today, the country is home to nearly 870,000 Latter-day Saints in around 1,300 congregations. A few Filipinos joined the Church in the 1940s and 1950s, but missionary work did not begin in earnest until 1961. After that point, it accelerated quickly. By the end of the decade, the Church had a presence on eight major islands. In 1973 the first stake in the Philippines was organized. The first temple in the Philippines, the Manila Philippines Temple, was dedicated in 1984 by former Church President Gordon B. Hinckley.
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Location
The Tacloban Philippines Temple is currently in the planning stages. This house of the Lord will be built on a 6.99-acre site located at Tacloban Bypass Road Brgy. Utap-Caibaan, Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines. Plans call for a two-story temple of approximately 21,407 square feet.
Groundbreaking Announced
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the date of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tacloban City Philippines Temple. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Tacloban City Philippines Temple will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Elder Michael B. Strong, Second Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency, will preside at the event.
Temples in the Philippines
- Alabang Philippines Temple
- Bacolod Philippines Temple
- Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple
- Cebu City Philippines Temple
- Davao Philippines Temple
- Iloilo Philippines Temple
- Laoag Philippines Temple
- Manila Philippines Temple
- Naga Philippines Temple
- Santiago Philippines Temple
- Tacloban City Philippines Temple
- Tuguegarao City Philippines Temple
- Urdaneta Philippines Temple
