Makati govt bans fireworks near FPIC pipeline

The Makati City government on Wednesday banned fireworks in a residential area where the controversial pipeline of First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) passes through. Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. ordered officials of Bangkal village to pass an ordinance prohibiting the sale and use of fireworks in their area. "Binay issued the order to avert any untoward incident that may trigger a massive explosion until the affected areas in Brgy. Bangkal have been cleaned up and cleared of any petroleum contaminants," the Makati City government said in an article on its web portal. FPIC's pipeline had been closed off after geologists found sources of oil leaks there.

Until its closure, FPIC's pipeline carries oil of Shell Philippines and Chevron from their refineries in Batangas to their depots in Manila's Pandacan district. On the other hand, Binay said a dialogue with residents dubbed “Ugnayan sa Barangay Bangkal" has been scheduled for Thursday. He planned to update the residents on what the city government has been doing and to answer their queries especially on health, safety and legal matters. Meanwhile, Task Force West Tower will also start a random check on the lower explosion level (LEL) in households within the 100-meter radius to check for the presence of petrochemical vapors inside their houses. The city’s health department has also started its profiling of residents within the 100- meter radius. City health officials have been monitoring health-related problems and conducting regular water analysis as part of the city’s contingency plans. Binay also ordered the Task Force to start with the construction of capture wells that will drain contaminated water even before it enters the basement of West Tower condominium. The Task Force will also be constructing additional exploratory wells to determine exactly the extent of the plume, or ground contamination. - KBK, GMANews.TV