18-hour fire hits Meralco head office

An 18-hour fire hit a two-story building of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) main office in Pasig City Wednesday night destroying property estimated at P200 million.

Meralco officials said the fire failed to disrupt electric service in Metro Manila and nearby towns and cities. However, the customer service office was among those razed.

Superintendent Aloveel Ferrer, Pasig City fire marshal, said the fire started at the telecommunications room in the two-story building at the Meralco compound along Ortigas Ave., at about 7:40 p.m.

According to Ferrer, his men put the fire under control at about 9:53 p.m. and were about to leave, when the fire re-ignited sending the firefighters back to work.

"There was a basement in the building where stored computer sets caught fire so we went back and battled the blaze until we were able to put it under control at 1 p.m. today," said Ferrer.

Aside from the telecommunications and customer service offices, the building also housed offices of the firm’s retiree’s association, Meralco Savings and Loans Association, Human Resources, Inspection Office and a PCIBank branch. The building was heavily-damaged.

Ferrer said they are still conducting mopping up operations and determining the cause of the fire. He did not discount arson.

It was gathered that Meralco management and the labor union are locked in negotiations of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Prior to the fire, Meralco employees staged a walk-out but were issued a return to work order by the labor department.

At least 50 firefighters from Metro Manila and volunteer groups joined hands in battling the fire, said Ferrer. – Non Alquitran