It’s final: Pandacan oil depot must go

MANILA, Philippines - There’s no stopping the relocation of the oil depot in Pandacan, Manila.

In a session yesterday, justices of the Supreme Court (SC) rejected the appeals filed by Chevron Philippines Inc., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Petron Corp. on its ruling last November that set a six-month deadline for implementation of the transfer.

SC spokesman Theodore Te told reporters the SC denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Shell, citing the “overwhelming reasons” in its earlier decision supporting its position that depots have no place in a densely populated area.

The ruling cited the fire that spread over the entire city when the Pandacan fuel storage dumps were set on fire in December 1942 and another incident involving an explosion.

Te said the SC also dismissed Chevron’s motion for clarification that the oil company could keep its facility in the depot despite the withdrawal of its products from the area.

The relocation entails complete removal of the facilities in the Pandacan terminals, he said.

The SC also reminded Petron that it did not consent to consider January 2016 as separate deadline for compliance with its decision.

The SC said the ruling is final as it warned of possible contempt against parties that will file further pleadings or motions.

Heavy industrial zone

The SC said Manila City’s Ordinance 8187, which reclassified the area as a heavy industrial zone, was unconstitutional and invalid.

In its ruling in November, the SC directed the Manila city government to oversee the relocation of the depot within six months from submission of the relocation plan.

The SC also required the oil firms to submit within 45 days a comprehensive relocation plan to the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 39.

It stood by its ruling issued on Feb. 13, 2008, which sustained the validity of Manila City Ordinance 8027, which reclassified portions of the Manila districts of Pandacan and Sta. Ana from industrial to residential and commercial.

The SC declared that the objective of the ordinance was to protect the residents of Manila from the catastrophic devastation that will surely occur in case of a terrorist attack on the Pandacan depot. – With Jose Rodel Clapano