DPWH: Magallanes Interchange not to blame for FPIC pipe damage

The Magallanes Interchange is not to blame for the damage to the pipe of First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said. Citing a study it conducted, the DPWH said the damaged portion of the pipe is not under the retaining wall of the interchange's ramp but five meters away from the wall. "In the evaluation of DPWH design experts, the weight of the wall and the vibration by passing vehicles have very little effect at that distance from the wall," an article posted on the DPWH website said. The DPWH also said the pipe damage that led to a gas leak in Bangkal village in Makati City are small holes, not cracks. According to the DPWH, if the stress placed on the pipe by the structure exceeded the resisting capacity of the pipe, the eventual damage will be cracks but not holes. The DPWH study showed that the vehicles passing over the interchange caused only minimal stress and vibration on the pipe. The DPWH measured the height of the embankment near the damaged pipe at about six meters and the pipe at about 1.5 meters below the service road. The government agency also noted that the 14-inch-diameter pipe is even encased in about 10-inch thick steel reinforced concrete box, which provides additional protection against the weight of the structure and vehicular vibration. Pipelines shut down The FPIC first shut down the pipeline on July 12 after a gas leak was reported at the West Tower Condominium in Bangkal, Makati, which is near the path of the pipeline. However, the pipeline was reopened on July 15. The FPIC closed the pipeline for the second time on July 21 but opened it again on July 24. On July 29, the Energy Department and the Makati government both cleared the FPIC. The DOE then said FPIC had nothing to do with the gas leak at West Tower. The company shut down the pipeline for the third time on October 28 to determine the source of a petroleum leak at the West Tower Condominium along Osmeña Highway, Barangay Bangkal, Makati City. Pipelines for petroleum products The FPIC has two main pipelines transporting petroleum products from oil refineries in Batangas to terminals in Pandacan, Manila. The Lopez-owned FPIC has a 25-year concession to transport crude and refined petroleum products until 2017. The damaged pipeline is FPIC's 117-kilometer “white line" that carries gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation fuel and other refined petroleum products. Its other pipeline, called the “black line," transports heavier petroleum products. – VVP, GMANews.TV