MANILA, Philippines - The Calasiao town in Pangasinan was placed under a state of calamity after a huge predawn fire razed the town's municipal hall and damaged an adjoining chapel.

GMA's Flash Report said a state of calamity was declared in the area in order to speed up the accumulation of emergency funds to repair the municipal hall. Officials pegged the damage caused by the fire at P75 million.

The report also said local officials are also set to pass a resolution aiming to seek the help of the national and provincial governments in order to acquire funds needed for the repair.

With the municipal hall destroyed, Calasiao municipal employees are using a training center inside the senior citizen’s office, and a town gym as their temporary office.

Aside from burning Calasiao’s municipal hall, the fire - which started around 2 a.m. and lasted for five hours - also damaged an adjacent chapel Señor Tesoro Shrine which is a popular tourist spot in the province.

A fireman was also hurt while helping put out the fire. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV