Pilipinas Shell claims it added chemical that gives odor to Two Serendra LPG supply

 News
Jun 142013
 

The supplier of the liquefied petroleum gas to Two Serendra has claimed that the LPG it provided the condo complex had an additive meant to give the gas a distinct odor.

“We do inject a chemical additive called ethyl mercaptan in what we supply,” Roberto Kanapi, vice president for communication of Pilipinas Shell, told GMA News Online.

He added that, “We even inject more than what is required by ASTM (American Society for Testing Material).”

Investigators have been trying to determine why the tenant of the condo unit which got blown away in a powerful blast at Two Serendra on May 31 did not notice any smell that would have served as a sign that LPG was leaking in the supply pipes.

Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC), the main developer of 240-hectare Bonifacio Global City, chose Pilipinas Shell as its joint venture partner with Bonifacio Gas Corporation in the supply and building of piped gas installations in the development. 

Bonifacio Gas, incorporated on November 12, 1998, was formed to build and operate an underground pipeline network that will provide a centralized gas distribution system within the Bonifacio Global City.

FBDC is backed by the Bases Conversion Development Authority, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and Evergreen Holdings Inc. of the Campos Group.

On June 7, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II said a gas leak, not a bomb, was the most likely cause of the May 31 explosion, which left three people dead and six others injured.
The DILG order prompted ALI to shut down the centralized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution system at the entire Serendra condominium complex in Taguig City as a precautionary measure, the property firm announced Monday.

ALI president and CEO Antonino T. Aquino in a statement said they have completed their own double checks in all malls and restaurants throughout the country.

“We will fully cooperate and help in whatever way we can to ensure compliance with the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) directive,” he added.  — ELR, GMA News

Fatalities in Serendra blast laid to rest

 News
Jun 092013
 
Fatalities in Serendra blast laid to rest

The three fatalities in the blast at the Two Serendra condominium in Taguig City last May 31 were laid to rest in their home provinces over the weekend. Relatives of the three are not keen on filing charges against the condo’s management as they cited potential high legal costs, radio dzBB reported early Monday. Sallymar Natividad was buried at a memorial park in San Jose del Monte in Bulacan province, the report said. Natividad, the driver of the delivery van crushed by debris from the explosion, left behind a pregnant widow and two children. Another fatality, Marlon Bandiola, was buried in Carmona in Cavite province. The third fatality, Jeffrey Umali, was buried in Nueva Ecija province, the report added. Last May 31, a blast hit the Two Serendra condominium, causing tension in the area, including shoppers at a nearby commercial area. An investigation showed the blast stemmed from a gas explosion and not a bomb. —KG, GMA News

PNoy satisfied with results of Serendra blast probe

 News
Jun 072013
 
PNoy satisfied with results of Serendra blast probe

President Benigno Aquino III is satisfied with the results of the investigation on last Friday’s explosion at the Two Serendra condominium building in Taguig City that left three people dead, Malacañang said Friday. Aquino, however, asked investigators to continue being vigilant to truly determine the source of the gas leak that resulted in the explosion, said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. “The president was updated last night [and he] was satisfied with the results,” Valte said at a press briefing in Malacañang. “Kung matatandaan ninyo po ang mahigpit na bilin ng pangulo doon sa interagency task force ay siguraduhin that the findings will stand the scrutiny of anyone and that findings will be based on the evidence that was gathered on site,” she added. Earlier in the day, Interior and Local Goverment Secretary Mar Roxas II announced based on the result of the investigation, a gas leak and not a bomb caused the deadly blast. Valte said Aquino has instructed the investigators to continue their probe with the same thoroughness. “Itutuloy po ‘yung thoroughness, hindi pa ho tapos ‘yung imbestigasyon. Na-rule out na po that the explosion was caused by any device, na-rule out na po ‘yon at nandoon na po sa stage na nasasabi na po ng mga imbestigador na this is attributable to a gas explosion most likely LPG (liquefied petroleum gas),” she said. PNoy to attend Ayala-hosted luncheon Meanwhile, despite the ongoing investigation on the property owned by Ayala Land Inc., Valte said Aquino, who is in Read More …

Two Serendra probe focuses on LPG angle; Unit 501-B occupant's account may be crucial

 News
Jun 052013
 
Two Serendra probe focuses on LPG angle; Unit 501-B occupant's account may be crucial

Probers looking at gas leak as cause of Two Serendra blast. In this photo taken on Sunday, June 2 and released to GMA News on Tuesday, June 4, debris litter the area surrounding Unit 501-B of Two Serendra at the Global City in Taguig. A huge blast which probers said could have been caused by a gas leak in Unit 501-B on Friday, May 31, blew away a concrete slab which landed on a delivery van, killing the driver and his two helpers. GMA News/HO The May 31 explosion at the Two Serendra condominium complex damaged not just Unit 501-B.  Investigators have learned that Building B of the complex sustained extensive damage from the ground floor to the eighth floor as their probe now focuses on the angle that some sort of problem in the centralized liquefied petroleum gas piping system may have caused the explosion that killed three people. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas met with the investigators from various agencies and groups Wednesday, but he did not speak to media about what that meeting took up.   As this developed, initial information originating from the occupant of Unit 501-B indicate that the victim did not smell any gas while he was at the doorway of the condo unit when the explosion happened. In an interview with GMA News, Atty. Raymund Fortun, legal counsel of the victim and unit occupant of 501-B Angelito San Juan, said San Juan did not smell any gas at 501-B. Fortun said San Juan felt Read More …