DESTRUCTION. A fire razes 10 stalls located in front of Gate 2 of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag in Pangasinan province near midnight Thursday (Feb. 15, 2024). Damage was initially placed at close to PHP1 million. (Photo courtesy of Manaoag LGU)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Almost PHP1 million worth of religious items and candles from 10 stores in front of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag in Pangasinan province were totally damaged by a fire Thursday night.
“It was very near the Basilica but thankfully it was not windy so it did not extend to the church. They (the Bureau of Fire Protection) are looking at electrical (-related issue) as the cause of the fire while the possibility of arson was discounted,” Mayor Jeremy Agerico Rosario said in a phone interview on Friday.
The fire broke out at 10:38 p.m. and was put out 11:45 p.m.
Rosario said firefighters also sprayed water to the church’s facade as a preventive measure.
Church activities went on as scheduled.
He said the municipal government will provide assistance to the stall owners, including temporary booths to continue their business, especially during the weekends when pilgrims and devotees come in droves.
“Initially, we will provide them with food packs. Even the Office of the Vice President has called and expressed that they wanted to help them as well. We are going to give them 25 kilos of rice and we will be issuing financial assistance,” he said without giving specific figures.
Ferdinand Leoveras, information officer of basilica, said the church is planning to place two fire hydrants near the gates where the stalls are.
"We have fire hydrants but in other areas in the Pilgrim's Center," he told the Philippine News Agency.
He also cited the importance of a monitored closed circuit television cameras where they saw the fire start and reported it immediately. (PNA)
