The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has assured that no documents related to flood control projects were in the Bureau of Research and Standards (BRS) building in Quezon City that caught fire Wednesday afternoon.

The BRS is responsible for the conduct of research, studies, pilot testing, and formulation of policies for government infrastructure projects.

In a statement, the DPWH said “initial findings indicate that the fire originated from a computer unit inside the Materials Testing Division that reportedly exploded.”

It also reported that no employees were harmed during the incident.

“An investigation team to assess the fire incident has been deployed and is currently conducting a thorough assessment to determine the full extent of the damage and to prevent similar incidents in the future,” the statement read.

The DPWH also assured that further updates will be provided once additional information becomes available.

The Bureau of Fire Protection – National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) said the fire incident at the DPWH office on NIA Road in Barangay Pinyahan was reported at 12:39 p.m. and reached the third alarm. It was declared under control at 1:34 p.m. and extinguished at 1:49 p.m.

Data backed up

Meanwhile, during the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights hearing, DPWH Assistant Secretary Melody Villar said most records affected by the fire are safely stored in the agency’s central database, emphasizing that its digitalization efforts helped preserve critical data.

The facility serves as both the testing site for construction materials and the regional office.

“It is the regional office of DPWH-4B. Dito po ang site ng testing materials ng DPWH na mga supplies like semento, bakal. We are looking into it already pero ito po yung testing site (This is the DPWH-4B regional office, which serves as the site for testing materials such as cement and steel. We are already looking into it but that’s the testing site)” Villar said.

She confirmed that while some physical records were housed there, most had been uploaded to the central office database.

The Senate was discussing Senate Bill No. 1215, which seeks to create the Independent People’s Commission (IPC) amid the flood control scandal.

Investigation ordered

Meanwhile, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered an investigation into the fire that gutted the DPWH office in Quezon City.

“The Ombudsman has directed the immediate coordination with the Nationaureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Fire Protection to determine the cause of the fire and to establish whether arson or any deliberate act was committed,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said in a statement sent to reporters. (With reports from Wilnard Bacelonia and Benjamin Pulta/PNA)