THE Manila Central Post Office, the oldest and most iconic structure at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, was destroyed by an eight-hour fire which started before midnight Sunday leaving seven firefighters injured and possibly damage of up to P300 million.

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Director Louie Puracan yesterday the fire struck at around 11:41 p.m. Sunday and was placed under control around 7:22 a.m.

Puracan identified the injured firemen as FO2 Joel Libutan, FO1 Carlo Abrenica, SFO2 Julio Erlanda, FO2 Jeremy Roque, FO1 Josaphat Arana, fire volunteer Toto Doslin and civilian Elain Dacoycoy.

BFP-NCR director Chief Supt. Nahum Tarroza said he already created a team to investigate the fire believed to have started at the General Services section located at the basement. Four floors of the building were destroyed by fire.

Firefighters had a hard time putting out the fire as their fire trucks ran out of water. Other fire volunteers were seen taking water from the Pasig River while others used the water from the fountain of Liwasang Bonifacio.

Puracan said the fire spread so fast because of the papers inside the post office in addition to the wooden floor of the building’s third floor.

Authorities said the origin of the fire is still unknown.

Rebuild Nat’l Post Office – Recto

A House leader urged the national government to rebuild the National Post Office Building as fast as it could using some emergency funds available.

“Fast, and not in slow mail fashion. So, when they come knocking on the doors of Malacanang for help, the postmen must not ring twice,” Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto said in reaction to the sad development wherein the main post office was engulfed by a fire, damaging at least P300 million worth of assets.

According to Recto, to rebuild the National Post Office, the government can use a portion of the P13 billion Contingent Fund, which is the national emergency fund, controlled by the President.

He also said the Calamity Fund can also be a source, which has a beginning 2023 available balance of P19.03 billion.

“Taipans can also help in reconstruction, and their donations, under Section 35 of RA 10066 shall be exempt from the donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income in the computation of the income tax of the donor,” Recto said.

This was how Italian Roman- and Renaissance-era sites were restored — under the auspices of companies, who regarded those as prestige and patriotic projects, Recto noted.

Manila LGU to help rebuild MCPO

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said the city government of Manila is willing to provide assistance to the MCPO.

She had a brief talk with Postmaster General Luis Carlos where she assured the latter that the city government is ready to extend assistance to the Manila Central Post Office which is one of the important Cultural Property and was considered a heritage site.

“Para po sa kaalaman nyo, ang Manila Central Post Office ay dinisenyo nina Juan Arellano at Tomas Mapua at ito po ay itinayo noon pang 1926. Napakagandang istraktura diyan po sa may Lawton,” Mayor Honey said during the regular flag raising ceremony at the city hall.

Meanwhile, she allayed the fears of a few who think that other infrastructure projects will be built since the Post Office building was totally damaged by fire.

In her official statement on Monday afternoon, the mayor said the MCPO was already recognized by the National Museum as an important Cultural Property, meaning that no other infrastructure can be built in the area except for the Post Office. By Joel dela Torre, Jester Manalastas and Edd Reyes