Gov’t shuts down depot over oil spill

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila city government padlocked yesterday a depot in Pandacan that spilled oil into the Pasig River last Saturday.

Also yesterday, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) issued a cease and desist order against the oil depot, ordering Larraine Marketing to pay a fine of at least P10,000 every day until the violation involving its pipe and drainage system has been rectified.

Von Vargas, chief of staff of LLDA general manager Nereus Acosta, said the order is intended to address the problems of the depot’s pipe and drainage system and not to close down the whole establishment.

City administrator Jay Marzan said Larraine Marketing had violated several city ordinances and corruption could have been the reason why the company was able to operate and store used oil. According to earlier reports, the city government issued the depot a “notice of condemnation” two years ago. 

The city government will check the company’s papers and try to finish the investigation within the week, Marzan said.

However, outgoing Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is slated to turn over the city’s top post to Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada on June 30. Estrada’s administration is expected to deal with the problem in its first week.

Manila Police District Station 6 commander Gilbert Celestino said Larraine Marketing is not allowed to store used oil, only finished petroleum products.

The fumes from the oil spill began to subside Wednesday amid continuing cleanup efforts, but residents near the Pasig River said the smell still persists. Some residents of Pandacan and Sta. Ana were taken to the hospital for shortness of breath after inhaling fumes from the oil and sludge that leaked into the river.

The Manila city government had arranged for the siphoning of 44,000 liters of used oil and about 4,000 liters of sludge from Larraine Marketing’s tanks.

Two days ago, the Philippine Coast Guard placed booms in the Pasig River to contain the oil spill.

Celestino said they are still studying how to dispose of the spilled oil and will check the depot’s tanks for possible leaks.

The Environmental Management Bureau’s National Capital Region office suspended Larriane Marketing’s environmental compliance certificate on Monday. The EMB, which is under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, can only suspend a firm’s ECC but the LLDA is the one that has jurisdiction over bodies of water that have been polluted.