MANILA, Philippines – First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC), owned and operated by the Lopezes, said yesterday its pipeline has nothing to do with a supposed petroleum leakage in a building in Makati.
In a statement, FPIC pointed out that the company had conducted a thorough check and made sure that the leak is not coming from its pipeline.
“All indications show that the pipeline of FPIC is not the source of the seepage of fluid mixed with liquid resembling petroleum in the basement of a building along Osmeña Highway, Barangay Bangkal, Makati City,” the company said.
But the company said it would extend help in addressing the problem.
Around noon of July 12, FPIC promptly responded to a report regarding the seepage and coordinated with the Bureau of Fire Protection which had personnel at the site.
FPIC stopped pumping operations at 4:45 p.m. on the same day as a precautionary measure.
Employing all requisite safety measures, and with the welfare of the nearby residents in mind, FPIC then proceeded to excavate sections of the pipeline in front of the building to search for possible leaks.
From July 12 to 16, FPIC excavated 15 segments along a 100 meter length of the pipeline fronting the West Tower Building.
“No leak or damage to the pipeline was discovered,” it noted.
A five-hour test-run of the pipeline was done on July 14 and 15 that further confirmed that there is no leak at the pipeline. Hence, normal operations of the pipeline resumed.
FPIC said they also have invited various agencies to conduct an inspection.
FPIC again stopped pumping operations at 10:30 p.m. of July 21 to further reassure residents that the company is responsive to their concerns.
FPIC has provided a hazardous waste disposal contractor to Col. Samuel Tadeo, Makati City Fire Marshall.
Meantime, Engineer Efren Impreso, chief of the FPIC’s Pipeline Right of Way, said the continuous leak may result to shortage of fuel in Metro Manila.
The 117-kilometer long pipeline is being used as way of fuel products such as aviation fuel, gasoline, diesel and kerosene from the oil depot in Pandacan, Manila to Batangas. – With Jose Rodel Clapano