The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Monday assured the public on the safety of all land records with the Land Management Bureau, following a fire that engulfed the LMB building in Binondo, Manila.
While land records in the building had been damaged, these only served as a backup of documents in the regional offices.
In turn, regional offices have also been computerizing records in their respective areas.
Secretary Roy Cimatu already formed a committee, headed by Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr., to assess damage to the bureau’s other important documents.
The fire in the area was still ongoing with the LMB awaiting a report from fire investigators as to its cause.
DENR reported that all LMB employees have been accounted for as safe and free from fire-related injuries.
Initial cost of damage was estimated at P100 million due to high-tech gadgets the LMB had recently purchased for the digitization of land records.
The public could proceed to the agency’s Help Desk at the central office in Quezon City for their land concerns and inquiries.