MANILA – The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has ruled out any loss of flood control project records in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) following a fire at one of its Quezon City offices, but warned authorities to tighten security over other critical documents amid ongoing corruption investigations.
ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. told senators during a committee hearing that initial verification showed that no flood control project files were damaged in the blaze that gutted parts of the DPWH Bureau of Research and Standards (BRS) building along NIA Road, Barangay Pinyahan.
“As per record now, the burning in Quezon City does not involve flood control projects,” Reyes said during deliberations on the proposed Independent People’s Commission bill.
However, Reyes urged vigilance, emphasizing that all Commission on Audit (COA) files related to infrastructure projects must be safeguarded.
“But we have to secure all records of the COA because… I know that there’s a tendency for criminals to burn down the office,” he added.
BRS director IV Juliana Vergara likewise dismissed speculations that the fire was linked to the probe into flood control anomalies, affirming that the bureau keeps no investigative documents.
“Wala po kaming dokumento dito na tungkol doon sa mga projects under investigation. Dahil ang testing of materials nung mga proyektong ng district engineering offices at regional offices, sila ang nagko-conduct. Ako po ang magpapatunay na wala kaming dokumento na kaugnay doon sa mga iniimbestigahan,” Vergara said.
The Bureau of Fire Protection reported that the blaze started around 12:39 p.m., reached third alarm status within 20 minutes, and was declared under control by 1:34 p.m. The affected BRS office, according to the DPWH, primarily handles “research, studies, pilot testing, and policy formulation for government infrastructure projects.”
Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to probe the cause of the fire and determine whether arson or foul play was involved./PN
