Harbor Center eyed as best depot site

Agreeing with a proposal, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said the Harbor Center in Tondo is the best alternative place to relocate the oil depot in Pandacan.

Atienza, who is set to meet with representatives with the oil depot at the Manila City Hall on Wednesday, said he is considering the Harbor Center – located on reclaimed land of the northern part of Tondo – as an option.

He said they are considering relocating the 30-hectare oil depot in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling issued last week, ordering the closure of the decades-old facility which currently stores the crude oil stock of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Chevron Philippines (formerly Caltex), and Petron Corp.

"The Harbor Center is the most practical to transfer the depot because of proximity. If they go somewhere else their overhead expenses might shoot up. It could also affect their distribution and transport cost," Atienza said.

He added that since the harbor is located in an industrial zone. Relocating the depot there would not violate Manila City Ordinance no. 8027, known reclassified portions of Pandacan and Sta. Ana from industrial to commercial zones.

Ordinance 8027 was passed by the Manila city council in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

The attacks sparked fears of a terrorist attack on vital installations such as the Pandacan depot.

Oil company Total set up its own depository at the Harbor Center immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Harbor Center, Atienza said, would not only offer security to the depot but would also ensure the safety of residents. The nearest residential area is about one or two kilometers away from the proposed depot site.

In an interview over DZMM radio, Petron spokeswoman Virginia Ruvivar said the major oil firms might have to spend as much as P13 billion to reclaim land from Manila Bay for the depot.

Atienza said, however, the oil companies need not have to spend that much. They could instead consider building on already reclaimed land.

"If they reclaim a new part of the bay, it would be too costly and too long to complete, it might take them may be five years. Whereas if they utilize the Center, within a year they would complete their transfer," he said. – Evelyn Macairan