Engineer okays rehab work at West Tower Condo

MANILA, Philippines - The structural engineer of the oil-leak affected West Tower condominium in Barangay Bangkal in Makati City has approved the rehabilitation work being conducted by First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC), the owner of the leaked pipeline.

FPIC in a statement said Jose Sy agreed that the condominium can be sealed off from the water that flows into its basements to eliminate the odor that is coming from the petroleum tainted water. He said West Tower should be sealed from the groundwater by closing the main pipe leading to the sump pit. Waterproof concrete and rebar will also be attached to the existing retaining walls of the basements, while a tied-down anchor will be attached to basement to resist the water’s upward pressure.

Sy said this engineering solution is also cost- effective as water from the sump pit need not need to be hauled manually by truckloads, and that the 15-horsepower sump pump motor will need not be operated anymore.