Century-old fire station in Manila set for demolition

The century-old Sta. Mesa Fire Station 8 on Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard in Manila is set for demolition to give way to a road widening project, but heritage advocates are opposing the plan.

Bureau of Fire Protection - National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) logistics division chief Fire Superintendent Emmanuel Ricafort said the project has already undergone bidding and already been awarded, according to Emil Sumangil's report on Unang Balita on Thursday.

"Last year po namin ito na-bid, awarded na po ito... From 335 square meters, ang matitira na lang, almost nasa 150 na lang, kalahati halos ng fire station," Ricafort said.

(The project underwent bidding last year and it has already been awarded… From 335 square meters, only 150 will be left, almost half of the fire station.)

"Ito 'yung naging basis para i-reconstruct itong fire station, at the same time, in-align din natin 'yung ating programa, 'yung modernization ng BFP,” he added.

(This was the basis to reconstruct the fire station, at the same time, to align it to the modernization program of the BFP.)

The BFP supported the construction of a new building because the facilities of Sta. Mesa Fire Station 8, including its ceiling and drainage system, are already damaged.

Cultural organization Renacimiento Manila, meanwhile, opposed the plan, saying that while there is a need for development of the firefighting facility, it should not be at the expense of this “treasure.”

"Mahalaga din ito para maunawaan ng mga Pilipino paano ba iyong kuwento ng pag-unlad in terms of the story ng firefighters and firefighting sa Pilipinas," said Renacimiento Manila president Diego Gabriel Torres in the report.

(It is also important for Filipinos to understand the story of progress in terms of firefighters and firefighting in the Philippines.)

"The best we could do is to retrofit and strengthen, have a structural analysis, anong parts nito ang maayos pa at kaya pang ma-salvage. And as much as possible, most of the building ang gusto pa nating maging intact pa naman," he added.

(The best we could do is to retrofit and strengthen, have a structural analysis to determine what parts can still be fixed and salvaged. And as much as possible, we want most of the building to be intact.)

To stop the demolition, Renacimiento Manila wrote to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) about its concerns.

In an earlier statement, the group said the Santa Mesa Fire Station was built in 1919 and was designated as Station Number 8. It was the last to be built in the American and Prewar Years.

"It survived World War 2 and as a result retain many fire fighting technologies and equipment which provide a glimpse into Fire Fighting History in Manila," the group said.

For now, the old building will be maintained until the Manila City government issues permits for the project.

Manila's public information office said they are still checking if the BFP has necessary documents, including a clearance from the NHCP, to proceed with the project. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News