West Tower residents eye class suit vs FPIC for pipe leak

Residents of the West Tower Condominium in Makati City are planning to file a class suit against First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC), for damages incurred due to a leak in an FPIC pipeline. As early as July 12, the FPIC shut down its pipeline after a gas leak was reported in the West Tower area. The pipeline was opened on July 15, closed for a second time on July 21, and reopened on July 24. In the meantime, West Tower residents were evacuated from the building. Both the Department of Energy and the Makati city government had cleared the FPIC. However, the FPIC pipeline was closed for a third time on October 28 when another leak in the pipe was discovered, this time along the southbound service road of Osmeña Highway in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City, just a few meters from West Tower. (See related article: Geologists locate source of gas leak in FPIC pipeline in Makati.) Makati officials admitted that petroleum seepage has probably contaminated surrounding land and water. At the moment, the water from nine pumps around West Tower has been declared non-potable because of possible contamination. West Tower residents complained that the only help they received came from the Makati City government, when it was the FPIC who should take responsibility and be held liable for the troubles caused by the pipe leak. "The city government of Makati has no obligation to do that. West Tower residents have no obligation to do that. It is the obligation of whoever placed the pipes, whoever was negligent in maintenance," said Lorna Kapunan, attorney for West Tower Homeowners.
In addition to suing FPIC for damages to property, West Tower residents also want the pipeline permanently shut down, unless the pipes — which they say date back to 1967 — can be replaced. "The only way that they [FPIC] will take us seriously… is if we file a case," said Kapunan. FPIC did not respond to the allegations in the class suit, except to say that its lawyers were handling the case. Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Jun-jun" Binay said they have not yet found the exact source of the leak. Finding the leak is difficult because the pipe is buried deep underground, with portions of it under the busy Magallanes flyover, said Binay. While the Makati city government is shouldering all expenses at the moment, Binay said they expect FPIC to give aid eventually, especially in the rehabilitation process. They also planned to hire environmental experts to determine the safety of air, water, and land quality of areas near the pipe. Binay said that while the government plans to ensure the safety of the area before allowing residents to return to the West Tower, "we'd like them to be in their units before Christmas." "Yes, we want to be home for Christmas," said West Tower resident Manuel Chua Unsu. "Pero pag-uwi namin, safe ba kami? (But once we return home, will we be safe?) How about the long-term health issues?" FPIC officials said the company had yet to estimate how much the leak would cost them. "Right now our priority is to find that leak, fix it," said Jojo Raule, senior vice-president of FPIC.—With Larissa Mae Suarez/JV, GMANews.TV