Fire-gutted Manila Post Office cleaned up

Firefighters from the Binondo Fire Volunteers and residents from the community have cleaned up the historic Manila Central Post Office building, which was damaged by a fire last May.

Using a high-pressure fire hose, the volunteers flushed debris from the lobby, leaving the floor recognizable and free from dirt.

Plans to preserve the historic building are now being set in motion with the help of the member agencies of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Cultural Heritage.

The Philippine Postal Corporation, or PHLPost, has taken initial steps towards restoring the MCPO building. A conservation architect has been hired to identify and catalog items or materials left by the fire that have historical value.

PHLPost said it is also working on shoring up the building, which is a process of temporarily supporting the structure to avoid collapse during repairs or alterations.

The Department of Tourism is now looking at developing the MCPO building as part of a cultural circuit in the City of Manila.

Built in 1926, the MCPO building was declared an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2018. Important Cultural Properties are eligible to receive government funding for their protection, conservation and restoration.