Eight business establishments were reportedly destroyed by a fire that broke out late Friday night in Barangay Masagana, El Nido town.
Municipal administrator Rene Jay de la Calzada said no tourist or resident was injured by the fire that struck a line of mostly building accommodations and restaurants along Calle Hama at around 11:00 p.m.
De la Calzada said investigation by the municipal office of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is still on going after “fire out” was declared at the crack of dawn Saturday.
“May mga establishments kasi na gawa sa light materials, tapos malakas ang hangin kaya ang bilis ng pagkalat ng apoy. Nag-iimbestiga pa ang BFP kaya hindi pa kami makapag-bigay ng eksaktong detalye tungkol sa pinagmulan ng sunog. Maaaring faulty wiring… may possibility… kasi nag-umpisa daw sa isang establishment pero off hour na. Investigation is ongoing pa,” De la Calzada said.
He said among the establishments destroyed by the fire were Squidos, Og’s Beach Pension, and Seaside Resto Bar.
De la Calzada said the “Bayanihan spirit” displayed by residents, tourists, law enforcement personnel and others helped the local BFP personnel in preventing the fire from spreading to destroy more structures.
“May isang fire truck kami, plus tanker, tapos meron din ‘yong sa airport, at ‘yong power sprays ng El Nido Resort na gumamit ng tubig mula sa dagat ay nakatulong sa pagpatay ng apoy,” he said.
Masagana is a barangay in the center of El Nido that is one of the busiest spots because of a number of pension houses, restaurants, and other commercial establishments, he said.
Meanwhile, provincial BFP chief Superintendent Catalino Ramos Jr., when sought for comments regarding the cause of the fire, said their investigation still has no result as of press time.
“Fire out na pero hindi pa kami makapaglabas ng other details kasi hindi pa tapos ang investigation kung saan nanggaling at kung ilan o magkano ang naging pinsala,” Ramos said.
