In 2023, an inferno destroyed the Manila Central Post Office (MCPO), burning for more than 30 hours and causing the highest level of panic.
This year will see the beginning of the restoration of the renowned building, which was completely destroyed by fire a year ago, beginning with the bidding process for an architecture and engineering study.
Restructuring the building
Just in time for the company's 100th anniversary, Postmaster General Luis Carlos stated that the detailed architectural and engineering design will be finished by July, with a two-year completion schedule.
When asked about the planned completion, he said, "The main building may be in 2026 of November; that is a personal target of mine [for the] 100 years old anniversary of the building."
"We really have to do a public bid, the detailed architecture and engineering study will bring us to a DAED -- detailed architecture and engineering design-- to determine what are the interventions that we have to do, the structural integrity of the building will come from the DAES," Carlos said.
Undergoing initial tests
According to Carlos, a formal structural test of the building is planned.
"It's almost finished and I would like to thank the Department of Tourism who did the public bid. So right after this, it can be used also for insurance claims, at the same time it would be used for the DAED," he said.
To begin the MCPO's restoration and renovation, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has invested P15 million through its infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
This is a breakdown of the P15 million budget as provided by the DOT:
- * P6 million will be used to design the shoring, construct scaffolding for the walls, and construct the temporary roof and work methodology.
- * P6 million for condition assessment plans and the development of diagnostic results.
- * P3 million for cost investigation of the MCPO's state of damage.
