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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Fire razes town hall in Pangasinan
PANGASINAN -- The Calasiao Municipal Hall and the adjoining shrine of the Señor Divino Tesoro were burned down early Monday morning.
Damage in the municipal property was estimated at P100 million, said Mayor Roy Macanlalay.
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As of Monday afternoon, fire investigators have yet to determine the origin of the fire that allegedly started at the second floor of the building.
The fire started at 2 a.m. It was contained three hours later.
Municipal Deputy Fire Marshal Jose Cariño and three other persons were injured during the incident.
The Municipal Council chaired by Vice Mayor Ferdinand Galang passed a resolution declaring the town under a state of calamity.
They also passed resolutions seeking financial assistance from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice President Noli de Castro, the senators, Pangasinan third district Representative Ma. Rachel Arenas, and Governor Amado Espino Jr.
The funds that will be raised will be used for the immediate construction of a new municipal hall.
Macanlalay said the façade of the Municipal Hall, which was spared by the fire, will be preserved.
The 11 detainees at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) detention cell, which was also housed at the town hall, were temporarily transferred to the BJMP district jail in Dagupan City.
The Municipal Hall was constructed in the 1940s.
It was renovated in 1963 and further improved by the mayors who served the town. The last renovation was completed by the administration of Macanlalay.
For the meantime, Macanlalay and all other municipal officials and employees will hold office at the Calasiao Multi-Purpose Training Center, Senior Citizens and Retirees building, and Calasiao astrodome.
Members of the Señor Divino Tesoro Foundation-Calasiao led by its president Lourdes Fernandez meantime collected the ashes and other remnants of the "miraculous" image.
They would display these in public later, together with the original (metal) crown. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (September 16, 2008 issue)
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