Manila councilor hits oil companies

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Councilor Ma. Lourdes Isip-Garcia assailed yesterday the call of the three biggest oil companies in the country for a third party expert assessment of safety of the controversial Pandacan oil depot, as a mere effort to confuse the public. 

Isip-Garcia said that the Big 3 oil companies – Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Chevron Philippines Inc. (formerly Caltex), and Petron Corp. – released a paid advertisement in local newspapers calling for a so-called Third Party Expert Assessment.  

“It is meant to cover up the real issue, which is the refusal of the oil companies to comply with the Supreme Court ruling. It is meant to sanitize the foul and highhanded methods the oil companies have committed to maintain the status quo. It is also designed to delay any action of pro-relocation groups or to keep the opposition off-guard and complacent,” she said.

The oil companies own the controversial oil depot in Pandacan, which is a safety concern of residents.

A single spark or accident could ignite an explosion, endangering hundreds of thousands, said Isip-Garcia.

The oil companies are seeking for an independent evaluation by a third-party risk assessor of the safety and pollution control measures of the Pandacan facilities.

Isip-Garcia, a strong advocate of the relocation of the oil depot, said the oil companies made a clever tactic of seemingly being reasonable but actually derailing the opposition’s actions.

“First, the oil companies cannot be trusted. They are not being transparent although they pretend to be so. Until now, they have not opened their records or book of accounts for public scrutiny,” said Isip-Garcia.   – Sandy Araneta