SENATE committee on the environment chairman Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday stressed that the First Philippine Industrial Corporation (FPIC) must be held responsible for the leak in June 2010.

Zubiri recommended damages for residents of a Makati village affected by an oil pipeline leak that has exposed residents to noxious fumes.

He said the committee is in no position to decide how much FPIC has to pay residents, “but they may seek damages.”

FPIC airs side

In a statement, the FPIC noted that during a “Kapihan sa Senado” press conference,  Zubiri  reportedly raised three issues regarding the FPIC pipeline, as follows: that FPIC violated the Clean Air Act; that FPIC should pay damages to affected residents; and that the whole pipeline should be inspected.

The FPIC stressed that it must be noted that the first issue is now subject of a proceeding before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 

The second issue is now subject of a civil complaint purportedly filed by some West Tower residents with the Regional Trial Court of Makati, as disclosed by Atty. Lorna Kapunan during the hearing before the Supreme Court on March 24, 2011, the statement added.

The third issue is being addressed by FPIC pursuant to the directive of the Supreme Court in the Writ of Kalikasan which ordered FPIC to check the structural integrity of the pipeline.  In fact, the inspection of the whole pipeline has always been part of FPIC’s standard operating maintenance procedures.

“With all due respect to Senator Zubiri and the members of the committee, the proceedings before the Senate committee on environment and natural resources are in the nature of an investigation in aid of legislation.  As such, these are not meant to dwell into matters which are more appropriately addressed by the courts and quasi-judicial tribunals.

As a responsible company, FPIC has been doing cleanup, remediation and rehabilitation efforts to completely address the oil leak situation.