MANILA, Philippines - First Philippine Industrial Corp. officials and around 20 residents of the West Tower Condominium in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City inspected Thursday the progress of the rehabilitation of the building, which was affected by a leak from the FPIC’s oil pipeline.
In a statement, FPIC said the condominium residents, led by Paul Cruz, and FPIC president Tony Mabasa, FPIC Bangkal remediation project manager Nards Ablaza and environment advocate Gina Lopez inspected the 22-story condominium.
During the inspection, Ablaza updated the West Tower residents on the status of the rehabilitation work his team has been doing on the condominium since May, when FPIC was allowed full access by the West Tower Condominium Homeowners’ Association until Aug. 4, when their work was stopped after being barred access to the lobby and upper floors by the association.
Following the decision of the association, FPIC is only allowed access to the basements of the condominium, which were submerged in water and oil that leaked from the pipeline owned by FPIC.
According to FPIC, during the group’s inspection, the basements were found to be almost completely back to their condition prior to the pipeline leak. The FPIC added that the building’s generators and pumps, submerged in water when the basements were flooded, have all been replaced. Ablaza said the cleanup has so far recovered about a million liters in oil and petroleum products.
The FPIC also said electricity in the common areas of the condominium has been restored, leaking water pipes were repaired and the lobby, corridors and roof deck cleaned. The elevators were also checked, it said.
Meanwhile, Mabasa said the rehabilitation team could complete all the needed repairs in just a few months’ time if it is allowed full access to the other areas of the condominium.