Gov't bldgs razed

MANILA -- Three firefighters were hurt Monday, May 28, as they battled flames that engulfed the Land Management Bureau (LMB) Building and spread to adjacent buildings, including the one housing the country’s archives, in Binondo, Manila.

Manila Fire Marshall Jonas Silvano said the fire broke out at 12:40 a.m. Monday at the 7th floor of the LMB Building.

Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, in a press conference Monday noon, assured that land records are safe.

The fire alarm level reached Task Force Charlie, which required 20 firetrucks to respond, at around 8 a.m. Monday.

The blaze spread to the BPI Building, Moraga Mansion and Juan Luna Building, which houses the National Archives of the Philippines.

Silvano said Moraga Mansion, a residential building, was damaged while the fire was contained to the 4th and 5th levels of the National Archives.

“Itong sa National Archives na-stabilize na natin sa 4th and 5th floor ang na-damaged. Chinecheck na natin 6th and 7th floor and saka 10th floor pababa (if may nadamaged bukod sa water damage,” he said.

(The 4th and 5th floor of the National Archives were damaged. We are checking the other levels.)

Silvano said those who were hurt amid the operation were a Bureau of Fire

Protection personnel and two fire volunteers who had lacerations and difficulty in breathing.

Silvano said they have yet to identify the cause of fire.

“High rise building kasi ang mga ito so ‘yung difficulties po talaga kasi po out of reach pero gumamit naman po tayo ng aerial ladder. Kung bakit po nag-transfer (ang sunog) kasi po nakita natin meron po siyang opening sa likod na pwedeng doon dumaan,” he said. As of 1:30 p.m. Monday, firefighters were still battling the fire. (Third Anne Peralta-MalonzoSunStar Philippines)