Oil firms evicted from Pandacan

Ordinance gives ‘Big 3’ seven years to move out of residential-commercial zone

By RAYMUND F. ANTONIO

The major oil companies operating in the country will have to vacate the Pandacan district in Manila within a seven-year period after an ordinance reclassifying the area as a residential-commercial zone was approved yesterday by the Manila City Council.

After a series of public hearings and heated deliberations, the proposed Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Zoning Ordinance (ZO) authored by District 6 Councilor Bonjay Isip-Garcia was approved by the City Council, paving the way for the transfer of oil terminals owned by the "Big Three" – Petron Corp. Inc., Pilipinas Shell and Caltex.

The ordinance, co-authored by 30 councilors belonging to the majority bloc, directs the three oil giants to relocate their terminals to another area within a seven-year period.

"We need a more relevant zoning ordinance as the old one no longer effectively responds to our city’s need. A memorandum order from the executive department long ago directed all local government units to update their CLUPs and ZOs. We are in fact one of the last to comply," she said.

The new zoning ordinance authored by Isip-Garcia contained provisions from an earlier ordinance which also sought the removal of the oil depots to avoid health, environmental and security risks.

Isip-Garcia, also the chairman of the committee on housing, urban development and resettlement, earlier presided over the public hearing and consultation attended by barangay leaders, residents and representatives from the oil companies.

"This zoning ordinance will maintain a delicate balance between the demands of commerce and the city’s socio-cultural needs," the lady councilor said.

Prior to the approval of the ordinance, negotiations were carried out by the giant oil firms in an effort to prevent their expulsion from the area. They said their relocations will affect oil price and supply.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the city government, the oil companies agreed to scale down their operations. Several related facilities were also put up to serve as buffer zones.

Earlier, Councilor Cita Astals, a former movie personality, questioned the new city zoning ordinance during a public hearing. She said the measure was no longer a zoning ordinance but more of an "architectural program."


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