Batangas fuel depot fire continues

MANILA, Philippines - The fire that has been raging since Saturday at a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) facility in  Calaca, Batangas has been declared under control, but not totally contained.

In a text message to The STAR, Batangas police director Arcadio Ronquillo said firefighters on at least 50 fire trucks continued to spray chemical foam to contain the blaze yesterday.

Police and arson investigators are conducting separate probes to determine the cause of the fire and the amount of damage.

The investigations will also determine the liability of the company, the South Pacific Inc. (SPI).

 The Department of Energy  (DOE) said the blaze would not affect the country’s LPG supply.

DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau director Melita Obillo said the SPI has only a small share of the market as it started operating only in November 2015.

Two of SPI workers – Mark Anthony Dochosa, 35, and Almer Nuevo, 23 – were injured in the blaze.

The DOE confirmed SPI is owned by LPG Marketers’ Association party-list representative Arnel Ty.

The company operates a 6,000-metric-ton LPG storage facility in Phoenix Petroterminal and Industrial Park in Barangay Salong.

The incident prompted Calaca Mayor Boogie Ona to declare the town under a state of emergency hours after the fire broke out.

Families residing in the nearby villages of Salong and Camastalisan have been evacuated for safety.

DOE secretary Zenaida Monsada clarified that the SPI has been issued a standard compliance certificate, dispelling rumors the facility has been operating without a clearance.

“The standard compliance certificate was issued in November 2015,” Monsada said.

Consumers’ groups claimed the facility has been operating without permits.

The National Coalition of Filipino Consumers wanted the fire probed, noting the villagers earlier raised safety concerns on the SPI operation.

The Samahan ng Takot sa Opresibong Politiko and Mamamayang nagMalasakit sa Kalikasan alleged the facility has no clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local government and fire bureau. – With Danessa Rivera, Non Alquitran