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DPWH Clears Up Fire Confusion: BRS Building Hit, Not Region 4B - All Documents Safe
Photo credit: DPWH
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has clarified earlier reports regarding the fire that broke out at one of its facilities in Quezon City, confirming that it was the Bureau of Research and Standards (BRS) building — not the Region 4B office — that was affected.
DPWH officials said Assistant Secretary Melody Villar mistakenly identified the affected building during a Senate hearing, but has since apologized for the confusion.
“She made a mistake by saying that the building affected by the fire was the Region 4B building. That is not true,” a DPWH official explained. “As you can see from photos taken this morning, the Region 4B office is safe and sound. It’s a few hundred meters away from the BRS building.”
The department emphasized that the Region 4B building remains fully intact, and only the BRS facility sustained damage from the blaze that occurred on Monday.
As for the cause, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has released its initial investigation results, pointing to an electrical failure in the ceiling area of the BRS building’s third floor as the likely source of the fire — correcting earlier reports that suggested an exploding computer triggered the incident.
The DPWH also reassured the public that no important documents were destroyed, and that all records stored in the BRS building have digital backup copies.
“All documents that may have been affected by the fire have scanned copies and backups,” the agency confirmed.
To clarify, the BRS serves as the DPWH’s main research bureau, responsible for conducting studies, tests, and policy formulation for government infrastructure projects.
A full investigation is still underway to assess the total damage and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“We wanted to put these facts on record,” DPWH said. “The Region 4B building is safe, the BRS fire was contained, and no critical records were lost.”
DPWH officials said Assistant Secretary Melody Villar mistakenly identified the affected building during a Senate hearing, but has since apologized for the confusion.
“She made a mistake by saying that the building affected by the fire was the Region 4B building. That is not true,” a DPWH official explained. “As you can see from photos taken this morning, the Region 4B office is safe and sound. It’s a few hundred meters away from the BRS building.”
The department emphasized that the Region 4B building remains fully intact, and only the BRS facility sustained damage from the blaze that occurred on Monday.
As for the cause, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has released its initial investigation results, pointing to an electrical failure in the ceiling area of the BRS building’s third floor as the likely source of the fire — correcting earlier reports that suggested an exploding computer triggered the incident.
The DPWH also reassured the public that no important documents were destroyed, and that all records stored in the BRS building have digital backup copies.
“All documents that may have been affected by the fire have scanned copies and backups,” the agency confirmed.
To clarify, the BRS serves as the DPWH’s main research bureau, responsible for conducting studies, tests, and policy formulation for government infrastructure projects.
A full investigation is still underway to assess the total damage and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“We wanted to put these facts on record,” DPWH said. “The Region 4B building is safe, the BRS fire was contained, and no critical records were lost.”
Oct 23, 2025
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