Oil firms vow compliance; alternative sites bared

MANILA, Philippines - Oil firms are ready to move out of the Pandacan oil depot in Manila as the Supreme Court (SC) has ordered.

The 33-hectare depot houses the storage facilities and distribution terminals of the three major petroleum industry players: Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Chevron.

Ramon Ang, Petron CEO, said they would comply with the SC order.

In May, Ang said the country’s biggest oil refiner had built alternative depots in Rosario in Cavite, Limay in Bataan, Navotas and Harbor Center as part of its efforts to move out of Pandacan.

In a statement, Shell said it will abide by the rule of law, although it has yet to receive the order.

“We have yet to receive the court order to enable us to comment further. Rest assured that Shell will observe the rule of law and good governance,” read the statement.

Chevron, owner of the Caltex brand, has yet to issue its statement on the matter as of press time.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has reiterated calls for oil firms to move their facilities out of Pandacan.

Residents have long been complaining of the risks of hosting the oil depot.

The operation of the oil depot has raised various concerns, including environmental and health risks.

Last year, the depot was again the center of debates following a spill from a bunker fuel warehouse in Old Panaderos in Sta. Ana, Manila.

In a statement, the Archdiocese of Manila said the oil depot in Pandacan posed grave threats to the environment and to residents.

The national and local government must not wait for another oil spill before deciding on the fate of the oil depot, the statement added.

The Archdiocese of Manila also reiterated calls for the repeal of City Ordinance 8187 classifying Pandacan as an industrial zone.