MANILA, Philippines - After the stench of an oil spill last week near the oil depots in Manila which caused panic among residents in several parts of the city, a Church official on Tuesday said it is ime to transfer these establishments away from residential areas.
Caritas Manila executive director Father Anton Pascual said it is more important to protect the lives of people rather than the interest of oil firms in maintaining the Pandacan oil depot.
The prelate said the national and local governments should look at a bigger picture and consider the health and safety of the public.
He said that the continuous operation of the oil depot will only put the people living near the area in danger.
"Dapat priority ng gobyerno na alisin na ang depot sa Pandacan, ito ay done deal na, mapanganib sa kalusugan at buhay ng tao. Ang trabaho ay madaling ayusin dahil mga multi-national corporation sila na may pondo sa workers displaced sa pag-alis sa Pandacan," Pascual told Radyo Veritas.