Manila Central Post Office to operate temporarily in another facility

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) — Operation of the Manila Central Post Office will move temporarily to a foreign mail distribution service center after a fire gutted the historic building late Sunday, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said on Monday.

"Hopefully, lahat ng mga ginagawa ng ating Manila Center Post Office ay maipapagpatuloy nila sa mga susunod na araw," Lacuna said in a livestream, adding that operations will be transferred to a mail distribution center along Delpan St.

[Translation: Hopefully, the Manila Center Post Office will continue all their operations in the next following days.]

She added that the Fire Bureau declared the building totally damaged. The estimated cost was ₱300 million.

Authorities said the fire began at the General Service Office at the basement.

READ: Historic Manila Central Post Office fire 'totally burned'

The Fire Bureau declared the highest general alarm at 5:54 a.m. that required the deployment of 80 fire trucks in Metro Manila. Fire was declared under control past 7 a.m. A fire out has yet to be pronounced.

"Hanggang ngayon ay may mga mapping operations pa rin na nagaganap kung saan sinusiguro ng ating mga bumbero na wala na pong ulit na sisilab na sunog sa post office," Lacuna said.

[Translation: Until now, mapping operations are still ongoing where firefighters ensure that there fire will not rekindle in the post office.]

Lacuna said no new structure will be built within the area since the Manila Central Post Office is protected by laws under the National Historical Commission, zoning ordinance of Manila and the National Museum of the Philippines.