Oil depot eyed at Harbor Center

Three major oil firms are negotiating for the transfer of their oil depot from Pandacan to a 79-hectare reclaimed area in Tondo, Manila.

Mikee Romero, Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. chief executive officer, said they would propose to Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Chevron Philippines and Petron Corp. that the oil depot be moved to an island to be created at the Harbour Centre.

"What Harbour Centre envisions for the oil companies is an island," he said.

"It would be ideal to have an island at the Harbour Centre, which will be connected by a 500-meter bridgeway from the main Manila Harbour Centre."

Total Philippines had already relocated its oil depot at the Harbour Centre, he added.

Romero said the Harbour Centre can provide world-class security for the depot of the three big oil companies after it is moved from Pandacan.

"International security standards are already in place at the reclaimed site, which hosts the 15-hectare Harbour Centre Port Terminal.

"Security at the first-class business port is international and port facility security-certified."

Recently, the Supreme Court upheld a Manila city ordinance ordering the closure of the oil depot on grounds of securing the public welfare.

The ordinance reclassified parts of Tondo and Sta. Ana from industrial to commercial zones.