West Tower residents affected by gas leak seek relocation

The residents of West Tower Condominium in Makati City on Friday appealed for a temporary relocation while authorities and the First Philippine Industrial Corporation (FPIC) repair the damage caused by the firm's fuel pipeline leak. "Ang hinihingi namin is temporary relocation (What we're asking for is temporary relocation)," architect Bobby Dimayuga, head of the West Tower rehabilitation team, told reporters after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri inspected the condominium on Friday. He said if the government can give informal settlers relocation sites, then they can also provide some for private lot owners. "Kami na legal na may-ari dito sa condo eh dapat naman kami bigyan ng matino na relokasyon (We who are legal condo owners should be given proper relocation sites)," he said. He noted, however, that they are not asking for monetary compensation - at least not at the moment. "Yung danyos, saka na yan, korte na magdedesisyon niyan kung magkano ba (As for the damages, the court will decide that)," he said. Other West Tower residents earlier said the FPIC offered them P100,000 each for the damage caused by the oil leak. "I don't know if others accepted but I do know that there is an offer. For now, we are only asking for a temporary relocation," said Dimayuga. He added that if they were given a choice, they wouldn't move out of West Tower. "Mahal namin ang bangkal, maganda tong lokasyon namin (We love Bangkal, our location is great)," he said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/VVP, GMANews.TV