Boac loses heritage houses to 3-hour fire

ISLAND FIRE A three-hour fire razes at least five heritage houses at the business center of Boac town in the island province of Marinduque early on Monday. —JOHN JIMENA / CONTRIBUTOR

BOAC, Marinduque — A fire that razed century-old houses and establishments at the business district of this capital town of Marinduque province might impact on the provincial government’s move to declare Boac a heritage town, a local official said.

According to authorities, the fire broke out around 5:30 a.m. on Monday at the poblacion, hitting at least five heritage houses and a local “panciteria” (noodle house).

Among those hit by fire was the Maharlikang Tahanan ni Kapitan Piroco, or the Piroco Mansion.

Marker

A historical marker by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines was placed in the house in 1973, according to the commission’s website.

Dindo Asuncion, Marinduque tourism officer, said the province was planning to declare Boac a heritage site and the fire might just “gravely affect” that move.

“But that’s not our primary concern right now. [Rather,] it’s the property loss,” he said.

Also damaged was a local restaurant called Chi Wing Panciteria. “It has been a tradition for balikbayan to make sure they eat there when they come home [to Boac],” Asuncion said.

The other houses, he said, were between 50 and 100 years old.

General alarm

Chief Insp. Jake Domingo, spokesperson for the Marinduque provincial police, said investigators from the Bureau of Fire Protection had yet to determine what caused the fire that reached a general alarm, prompting all towns in the province to send fire trucks to Boac.

The fire, he said, was declared under control after about three hours although investigation to determine the extent of damage continued.

“Initially, we’d say that the fire started from one side of the road and crossed to the other side through the power lines,” Domingo said.

No one was reported hurt but power supply and telephone service were interrupted throughout the day. —Reports from Mayda Lagran and Maricar Cinco