Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Petron admits difficulty finding relocation site for oil depot
PETRON Corporation has not found any suitable relocation sites that will substitute the Pandacan oil depot.
Virginia Ruivivar, Petron public affairs manager, said they have not made any deal for the possible acquisition or purchase of land where they can transfer their facilities from Pandacan after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled with finality the relocation of the oil depot which was owned and operated by Petron together with Pilipinas Shell, and Chevron Caltex Philippines.
"We have no commitment yet in terms of location," Ruivivar said.
She also denied reports that they are looking at transferring their terminals to harbor center, saying the area is not conducive since it would be impossible for them to put up the facility there.
Ruivivar said the company has not started any negotiations for the possible acquisition of the other option, the reclamation area in Baclaran.
"If it would be reclamation, a lot of things would have to be done so it would probably take time," she said.
The high court in its ruling scrapped the motion for reconsideration filed by the three oil firms taking into considerations the hazards and damaged that oil depots can bring to the residents near the oil terminals.
"Essentially, the oil companies are fighting for their right to property. They allege that they stand to lose billions of pesos if forced (to) relocate. However, based on the hierarchy of constitutionally protected rights, the right to life enjoys precedence over the right to property. The reason is obvious: life is irreplaceable, property is not," the SC ruling said.
The SC First Division issued the ruling last month.
But Ruivivar argued that it would really take them longer to find a suitable relocation sites that would cater to all their requirements for a terminal like Pandacan.
The Pandacan oil depot supplies 50 percent of the country's total demand for fuels including vital industries such as transport, manufacturing, shipping, and power generation.
The SC also gave the big oil companies 90 days to submit its comprehensive relocation plan and a maximum of five years to complete the pullout of their assets and personnel at the Pandacan depot. (MSN/Sunnex)
