Manila, May 1 -- The rehabilitation of the iconic Manila Central Post Office will start this year, starting with bidding for an architecture and engineering study on reviving the structure gutted by fire last year.

Postmaster General Luis Carlos said the detailed architectural and engineering design would be completed by July and the target completion is in two years, just in time for its 100th anniversary.

"(W)e really have to do a public bid, the detailed architecture and engineering study will bring us to a DAED -- detailed architecture and engineering design-- to determine what are the interventions that we have to do, the structural integrity of the building will come from the DAES," Carlos said.

"(T)he main building maybe in 2026...