42 House members seek inquiry into 30 hour-long Manila Central Post Office fire

At least 42 members of the House of Representatives have sought an inquiry into the 30 hour-long fire that gutted the historic Manila Central Post Office in Manila.

The 42 lawmakers sought the inquiry under House Resolution 1019, saying the fire has caused extensive damage to Manila Central Post Office’s historic structure, architectural elements and invaluable cultural artifacts.

The House members said the preservation, restoration, and protection of the country’s heritage sites are of utmost  importance as these contribute to the promotion of cultural tourism, the enhancement of national pride, and the turning over of history to future generations.

“It is thus crucial to investigate the causes of the fire, to assess the response  mechanisms employed, and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing safeguards and preventive  measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, specifically within the context of a heritage site such as the Manila Central Post Office,” the lawmakers said.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the House of Representatives, through the appropriate committee, is urged to conduct a thorough investigation in aid of legislation on the recent fire incident at the Manila Central Post Office, considering its significance as a heritage  site, with the end view of addressing the government’s intervention and mandates, as well as  maximizing the government’s effort in protecting, preserving, and safeguarding our heritage sites,” they added.

30 hours

After more than 30 hours, the fire at the Manila Central Post Office, which started late Sunday night, was declared out on Tuesday at 6:33 a.m.

The fire was believed to have started in the basement of the building and immediately reached the top floors. It reached first alarm at 11:41 p.m. on Sunday and general alarm, or its highest fire alarm level, at 5:54 a.m. on Monday.

Eighteen people, most of them firefighters, were reported hurt.

The Manila Central Post Office building was designed by Filipino architects Juan Arellano and Tomas Mapua and served as the main postal hub during the Second World War.

The neo-classical building had also been destroyed during World War 2 and was eventually restored in 1946.

In 2018, the Manila Central Post Office building was declared as an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News