TWO YEARS AND four months after a vicious fire gutted down an iconic structure at the heart of Manila, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) renewed its commitment to restore the century-old building referred to as the Manila Central Post Office.
According to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, the agency is prioritizing the rehabilitation of the damaged Manila Central Post Office “as fast as possible.”
Built in 1926, the building which once boasted of its classical architectural design, was gutted down by a fire on the evening of May 21, 2023. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze after two days. The cost of damages — P300 million.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) ruled out arson.
By his own admission, Dizon said that prioritizing phase one of the rehabilitation is in line with the President’s directive.
“My promise to you, our promise to you is that we will do it right. And we will do this as fast as possible,” Dizon told reporters in an interview.
“We will coordinate with the National Historical Institute to ensure that its restoration, rehabilitation, and repair will be done fast and right,” Dizon added.
The DPWH chief however remained mum as to when the restoration of the gutted structure would be completed.
