SMC to rebuild Skyway Stage 3 after fire

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. yesterday assured the public that it will be resume construction of the nearly finished Skyway Stage 3 project, part of which collapsed when a fire gutted SMC’s warehouse in Pandacan on Saturday morning.

“We continue to monitor developments and are ready to provide assistance to anyone directly affected by the incident. We also extend our full support and cooperation to authorities as they investigate the cause of the fire,” SMC said in a statement.

“Rest assured, SMC infrastructure will rebuild and resume construction at the soonest possible time, with the least delay on the projected completion date of Skyway 3,” it added.

The Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) and the Manila Police District said no one was injured in the four-hour fire, cause still unknown, that destroyed the warehouse of San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp. on Tomas Claudio street that used to be part of the Pandacan oil depot.

The fire affected approximately 300 meters of Skyway Stage 3, causing it to collapse after the heat melted part of the foundation of the elevated expressway.

The project, which will connect the South Luzon and North Luzon Expressways, is scheduled to be completed in March. 

Arson investigators said at least P15 million worth of properties were damaged in the fire, which started at a stockpile of plastic pallets in the open space located under the Skyway Stage 3.

The firm said an infrastructure technical team went to assess the damage as soon as the BFP declared the fire under control on Saturday afternoon but the team has yes to come out with the full report.