New pipeline installed in oil-lick-hit village

Monday, February 13, 2012

THE Lopez-owned First Philippine Industrial Corporation (FPIC) has started installing the 140-meter new pipeline along Osmeña Highway near Barangay Bangkal in Makati City.

Barangay Bangkal administrator Roy Ordiales said the FPIC informed them that the new pipeline will serve as a bypass pipeline parallel to the existing pipeline along Osmeña Highway.

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Authorities cited the old pipeline as the source of the gas leak that affected village residents, including residents of the 22-storey West Tower condominium.

Ordiales said the City Government of Makati has given clearances FPIC to start with the construction of the new pipeline.

Other government agencies that issued clearances are Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

The village official said the pipeline bypass would not be immediately redirected to the pipeline where the leak was discovered, two years ago.

FPIC's Bangkal remediation project manager Nards Ablaza said the construction of the pipeline bypass would take about a month.

Earlier, residents of Bangkal have expressed their opposition over the construction of a bypass because of its proximity to their homes.

However, Ablaza said they have explained the situation to the residents and barangay.

"We went through the process of engagement to the concerned agencies before they gave us clearance," said Ablaza.

FPIC's 117-kilometer pipeline carries petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel from refineries in Batangas to the oil terminal in Pandacan, Manila.

It started operations in 1969 transporting about 60 percent of Metro Manila’s petroleum needs 24 hours a day. (AH/Sunnex)