House eyes probe of Post Office fire  

MANILA, Philippines — At least 42 members of the House of Representatives have filed a resolution seeking an in-depth inquiry into what caused the fire that razed the Manila Central Post Office early this week.

In House Resolution 1019, the lawmakers yesterday made it clear they want the building preserved, restored and protected as one of the country’s heritage sites.

They said the fire caused extensive damage resulting in the loss of some or many of its architectural elements and invaluable cultural artifacts.

“It is thus crucial to investigate the causes of fire, assess the response mechanisms employed and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing safeguards and preventive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future,” the resolution read.

Investigating the 30-hour fire that swept through the Central Post Office is also the top priority of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as ordered by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos.

More than the estimated cost of the damage at P300 million, the historic landmark built in 1926 is one symbol of Filipino heritage that has survived the ashes of World War II.

“That is why I am calling on the BFP to prioritize the investigation of the Manila Central Post Office fire and exhaust all means necessary to find out the cause of this incident,” said Abalos.

Initial investigation showed that the fire started at the basement of the building at 11:41 p.m. on Sunday (May 21) and raged through the five-story edifice until 6:33 a.m. on Tuesday (May 23) when nothing but its grand façade was left standing. Parcels and national ID cards were also destroyed in the burning building as 17 fire responders and a civilian were reportedly injured.Sen. Robinhood Padilla has sought a Senate probe to revisit the protection of cultural properties against fire and other hazards.

“The Manila Central Post Office is a tangible representation of the nation’s culture and history, and its damage is a blow to the country’s cultural heritage,” he said.

Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Loren Legarda filed similar resolutions for an inquiry in aid of legislation on the cause of the fire and the need to restore the building and protect other historic sites.

During the plenary session yesterday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he filed a measure to create a special Senate committee “to look after the restoration and rehabilitation” of the iconic landmark in Manila.

In a tweet Monday, Sen. Sonny Angara, who chairs the Senate finance committee, said Zubiri had instructed him to work with the Department of Budget and Management to find sources of funds for the building’s rehabilitation.

Rebuilt after the war, the heritage building beside the Pasig River is known for its Greco-Roman pillars and neoclassical style designed by Juan Arellano, Tomas Mapua and Ralph Doane.

Sen. Chiz Escudero gave assurance that the building is covered by the state insurer Government Service Insurance System. GSIS president Wick Veloso confirmed that the building is insured for P604 million.

“That should be the financial cornerstone of its reconstruction,” Escudero said.

For Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, government should give its full support to rebuild the structure. — Delon Porcalla, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Ghio Ong