Calasiao town hall, icon razed by fire

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Local officials here yesterday placed the town under a state of calamity after their two-story municipal hall and the famous pilgrimage shrine of the miraculous Señor Divino Tesoro were totally razed by a three-hour fire dawn yesterday with damages of the building placed at P75 million and another P25 million for the equipment and other office facilities.

Mayor Roy Macanlalay said in a media conference after the Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Ferdinand Galang passed a resolution declaring a state of calamity in the area that they have also called for a joint probe of the local fire station about the delay in putting off the fire although it was located only a few meters at the back of the town hall and the police whether there was arson.

He said they have also passed separate resolutions requesting urgent financial assistance from President Arroyo, Vice President Noli de Castro, the senators, third district Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas and Gov. Amado Espino Jr. for the immediate reconstruction of the building.

“Wala ng natira talaga (Nothing was really left),” he said, adding that no record was saved.

The pre-war building was made of bricks and mostly wood on its outer surface and had undergone several renovations, the latest of which was only in March.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined by fire probers.

“Some say it started in the main building, others say at the extension,” he said. He added that nothing has been substantiated so far.

He said they will temporarily hold office at the training center, senior citizens building and their unfinished astrodome.

The deputy fire marshal, Senior Fire Officer 3 Jose Cariño, was taken to the Villaflor Doctors’ Hospital in Dagupan City due to suffocation. No one else was reported hurt.

While the mayor admitted that there were no anti-fire equipment installed at the town hall, the electrical wiring in the renovated portions had been replaced with new ones.

He said that once they rebuild the town hall, they will probably retain the facade which was still intact to remind them about the previous planners who originally built the town hall.