By ZALDY COMANDA
BAGUIO CITY – A fire hit the third floor of the sprawling Maharlika Livelihood Complex here before dawn on Tuesday, July 16.
MAYOR Benjamin Magalong (in yellow jacket) responds to a fire at the Maharlika Commercial Complex in Baguio City on July 16. (Photo via Zaldy Comanda)
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the fire started at 1:20 a.m. and declared fire out at 4:20 a.m.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office and the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera are conducting an assessment of affected businessmen.
Magalong said the timely arrival of firefighters and the availability of a fire hydrant prevented the fire from spreading to other floors.
"We have also contacted Maharlika General Manager Robert Arevalo for the full details of the affected tenants for government logistics, while the entire complex is temporarily closed for renovation to ensure the safety of tenants and buyers," Magalong said.
Magalong said the fire won’t affect the city government’s plan to take over the facility in 2025. “The fire has not affected our plan for the rehabilitation of Maharlika, we will proceed with the timeline, by 2025, the city will take over the facility.”
He said the Baguio City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has identified but has yet to reveal the cause of the fire as investigation continues. Damage to property is still undetermined and nobody was reportedly killed or hurt in the blaze.
The Maharlika Livelihood Complex in the Central Business District is under the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera and is adjacent to the Baguio City Public Market. On the third floor is a parking area, cafeterias, frozen food, and antique souvenir shops.