MANILA - Work at the Department of Agriculture (DA) main office in Quezon City was suspended before noon Friday due to a bomb threat.

Agriculture Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla said Vince Tejada, director of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), received the bomb threat through a text message between 10:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

The message warned the official about a bomb planted somewhere within the main building. The message also said that the warning was made out of concern for the employees, Fondevilla said.

Security personnel at the DA building immediately evacuated visitors and employees around 11 a.m.. Reports said employees almost panicked when power supply at the building was cut during the evacuation.

Operatives from the Quezon City Police Office searched the four-story building and its premises, but did not find any bomb.

Fondevilla said employees were allowed not to return to work despite the negative search for the bomb.

Last month, an improvised explosive device was found at the DA compound's ground. A similar bomb was also found at the One Burgundy Plaza along Katipunan Avenue.

These incidents followed the bomb attack at the Office of the Ombudsman's main building, also located in Quezon City.

Police and military officials had said that the bombs could have been planted by "destabilizers" of President Arroyo's administration.

The bombs were found days before Mrs. Arroyo's 9th State of the Nation Address on Monday, which ended without any disruption except for protesting activists.