High court allows firm to reopen pipeline

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court has allowed the Lopez–owned First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) to reopen one of its pipelines which were ordered closed after an oil leak led to the closure of a condominium in Makati City.

In a five–page resolution, the high court said the writ of kalikasan and the accompanying temporary environment protection order that Chief Justice Renato Corona granted on November 19, 2010 to residents of West Tower Condominium only covered the white oil pipeline system (WOPL) of the Lopez-owned firm.

The 117–kilometer underground pipeline delivers gas and diesel fuel from Batangas to the Pandacan oil depot in Manila.

The high court said Corona’s orders did not include the 105-kilometer black oil pipeline system (BOPL) which delivers bunker fuel from Batangas to Sucat, Parañaque City.

“Wherefore, the court hereby clarifies and confirms that what is covered by the November 19, 2010, (orders) is only the WOPL system of respondent FPIC. Consequently, the FPIC can resume operation of its BOPL system,” the magistrates said.

The high court also ordered FPIC to submit the documents on the safety and structural tests done on its leaking pipeline as requested by the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Civil Engineering.

The order, signed by Clerk of Court Enriqueta Vidal, was dated May 31, but was released to the media only yesterday.