PIPELINE LEAK: Stories of oil leaks all over the world have always put companies responsible for it in a bad light. But the difference between those who recovered from it from those who sank into deeper morass lay in how they responded to the crisis.
More often than not, companies that have immediately assumed responsibility and taken prompt and apt action to repair and mitigate the damage have risen out of the disaster with a minimum of corporate injury.
Watching the handling of the Bangkal pipeline fuel leak in Makati, miniscule compared to other well-known leaks, I see the Calvary of its operator, First Philippine Industrial Corp., as it responded to criticisms, voices of concern, and even ambulance chasers out to make money.
* * *
REMEDIAL ACTION: What helped calm the roiled waters and assured most Bangkal residents was the early apology of FPIC, its acceptance of responsibility and its all-embracing assurance that it would pay for damage resulting from the leak.
That prompt initial response, plus the visible remedial operations of its officials, engineers and other workers, helped prevent the problem from exploding into a bigger crisis with security implications.
The leak was found in the Bangkal portion of the 117-kilometer fuel pipeline from Batangas to Pandacan laid down more than 40 years ago under government supervision. The leak was found under the massive Magallanes interchange.
The possible negligence of other parties may be found soon, but that can be sorted out later. Meantime, the FPIC is taking the blame and handling the remedial measures.
* * *
CORPORATE STAND: The candid statement of FPIC chairman Federico Lopez at a recent energy conference explains the stance his company has taken. He said:
“(A)s we speak, a company that I chair, FPIC, is in crisis mode. I’m sure you’re all aware of the oil leak from our pipeline affecting West Tower in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City. It’s a most unfortunate incident that no one ever wanted to happen and we apologize whatever inconvenience it’s causing the public.”
“Although ultimate liability has yet to be established, what’s more important, we recognize, is that it’s not a time for finger-pointing, but a time for immediate remedial action. We have taken full responsibility for it. And we’ll remediate any harm to public health, safety and the environment.
“Even as the dust settles, there will surely be many hard lessons. We must heed and internalize on this incident, why it happened, why it was not caught sooner, and most especially, how we can prevent it from recurring in the future. I expect a tough uphill battle ahead to regain public trust and confidence on this public piece of infrastructure.
“I think (the) pipeline still remains the safest, most efficient, and least polluting way to move refined oil products to the metropolis. And it does the job of more than 400 fuel trucks (making) trips between Batangas and Metro Manila every day.
“This crisis is still, in some way, far from final resolution. But one point is certain, as we move forward: we would take full responsibility for public health and safety, the environment, and bringing the lives of affected parties back to normalcy as soon as possible.”
* * *
CLEANUP SET: A team of CH2M HILL, led by environmental hydro-geologist Edmund Piquero Jr., began remediation work in Bangkal last week. It will drill at least 20 wells this month to determine the extent of contamination.
Once they have data, they will start a cleanup that, he said, includes: “air sparge/soil vapor extraction; and pump and treat with product recovery; and combination of air sparge and pump and treat.”
To ensure they are doing it right, representatives of the UP College of Public Health, the Makati local government, as well as the environment and health departments will review their work.
The FPIC has been in dialogue with Bangkal residents and its medical teams have been attending to those affected by the fuel leak. It promised to repair West Tower, where the leak was at its worst.
* * *
LOT FOR SALE: Commercial muna — The 4,400-square-meter lot of former President Erap Estrada on Polk St. behind historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, with three big houses on it, is for sale. If interested, you can contact me, so I get the commission.
The going price there is now P70,000 per square meter — a far cry from the P180/sqm way back in 1970 when Erap bought the lot. (My spy told me he even got a 50-percent discount since the area was then still undeveloped.)
Erap said he and his wife Loi planned to move to a smaller place on Shaw Blvd. in nearby Mandaluyong.
He added that after their children had gotten married and put up their own residences, their four-bedroom houses attended by security men, cooks, maids, gardeners, et cetera, suddenly become lonely and too big for him and Loi.
* * *
ANTIQUE INCLUDED: Erap needs the money? He did not say so, but mentioned that he was detained and unemployed for 6-1/2 years and spent a huge sum — something like P500 million? — in the presidential elections last May.
But at lunch last Sunday, he looked recovered psychologically from his failure to recapture the presidency. He was his usual ebullient and joking self.
Glancing at a nearby table where the ladies sat, he said some interested buyers had backed out after he told them that if they bought the conjugal property they should also take the “antique” in the house. With Erap, you have to know when he is just joking or seriously joking.
* * *
ePOSTSCRIPT: Read past POSTSCRIPTs at www.manilamail.com. E-mail feedback to fdp333@ yahoo.com