Fire hits DPWH records room in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – A fire broke out Wednesday afternoon, January 14, at the Department of Public Works and Highways–Cordillera Administrative Region (DPWH-CAR) office, originating in a room where records are kept.

No injuries were reported and only minimal damage recorded, according to fire investigators.

Baguio City Fire Marshal Superintendent Mark Anthony Dangatan said the fire originated in the financial management records room on the ground floor of the DPWH regional office at Engineer’s Hill, affecting an area of approximately one square meter.

The fire was reported at 5:25 pm, brought under control at 5:36 p.m., and declared fire out at 5:43 pm, Dangatan said.

The incident occurred amid heightened public scrutiny of DPWH operations in Baguio City following corruption allegations that surfaced in late 2025. This led to the suspension of six DPWH officials, including Baguio District Engineer Rene Zarate, over alleged bid rigging, favoritism toward contractors, and document irregularities involving flood control projects.

Authorities, including the DPWH central office and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), have since launched investigations into the allegations.

In 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected slope protection projects along Kennon Road, including a rock shed in Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet, and raised concerns over their design quality and effectiveness.

Separately, flood control and road projects in Baguio City and other Cordillera provinces have faced audit observations and public criticism over delays, repeated repairs, and procurement practices.

In late 2025, these concerns escalated in Baguio when flood control projects under the DPWH City District Engineering Office came under investigation for alleged bid rigging, contractor favoritism, and document irregularities, leading to the preventive suspension of officials, including Zarate.

Fire and DPWH officials, however, have not indicated any connection between the fire incident and the ongoing probes.

A DPWH utility worker assigned to the building said smoke was first seen coming from the records room. The worker immediately alerted security personnel and drivers on site.

“Together, they attempted to control the fire using four 10-pound fire extinguishers,” Dangatan said. “Their efforts continued until personnel from the Baguio City Fire Station arrived and took over the fire suppression operations.”

Responding units included the Baguio City Fire Station (BCFS), Police Station 3, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

In a statement, DPWH said the fire had been successfully extinguished and that the site was fully secured. The agency said no DPWH employee was injured in the incident.

It said initial assessment by the Bureau of Fire Protection showed the fire did not spread outside the room.

The DPWH said that it is coordinating closely with the BFP and the local government of Baguio City to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into the cause of the fire.

DPWH said additional information will be released once it becomes available. – Rappler.com