Fire destroys Cremdec building in Taptap

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Resources Management and Development Center in Barangay Taptap was gutted by fire Sunday evening.

The fire started at 10:40 p.m. in the health center located within the building. City fire marshal Chief Insp. William Tacaldo said they received the fire alarm at 10:46 p.m. through the security guard, Glicerio Sardoncillo Jr.

Tacaldo said they have yet to determine the cause of the fire. Although he has pegged the damage at P700,000. Mayor Michael Rama has ordered to demolish what is left of the single-storey CREMDEC administrative building.

Sardoncillo said he heard an explosion prior and when he rushed to the building, the fire has already spread. He was at the dormitory when he heard the explosion.

The Cremdec administrative building also houses the City Agriculture Department’s satellite office and Barangay Taptap health center. Fire fighters arrived at about 11 p.m. but everything has been destroyed when they arrived, Sardoncillo said.

Taptap is a mountain barangay 13 kilometers away from the city proper.

Sardoncillo said firefighters from Sambag I arrived first.

Rama said that fire trucks must be put on stand-by in Barangay Taptap for the use of mountain barangays.

The area where the building stands will be cleared so the city can park heavy equipment and other emergency vehicles for the use of mountain barangays.

Rama said the planned construction of the three-storey Cremdec extension, which was also supposed to rise in the same area, will push through if funds will be available.

The proposed extension building that will provide more dormitory rooms and a bigger function hall did not push through due to lack of budget. The budget of over P40 million was requested and included in the 2012 annual budget, but was not approved.

Rama instructed Leo Maglasang of the Hillyland Management Board to submit to him tomorrow an incident report. He said he wants to know the chronology of events. The mayor questioned why the fire was not immediately controlled when it was still containable, saying that the Cremdec office was provided with fire extinguishers.

Rama also ordered to submit the immediate needs of the Cremdec office, of CAD and the health center.

The health center will transfer immediately to the available space at the barangay hall.

Maglasang said the admin office lost 10 computers, printers, televisions and other equipment and furniture. (FREEMAN)