Bishop asks Manila govt to review planned stay of oil depots

MANILA, Philippines – A ranking Catholic bishop on Wednesday asked the Manila city government to review carefully a measure favoring the continued stay of the 36-hectare oil depot in the city’s Pandacan district. Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo quoted Manila auxiliary bishop Broderick Pabillo as saying that the city council should include Pandacan residents in the consultation process for the passage of a measure amending city ordinances 8027 and 8119. Manila councilor Arlene Koa had sponsored the proposed ordinance amending the city’s comprehensive zoning plan. The draft regulation seeks to revert to “industrial" the land-use classification of the depots area. The proposal was approved on second reading last Thursday. The third and final reading scheduled last Tuesday was postponed due to lack of quorum of members of the city council. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and political group Social Justice Society (SJS) have opposed the continued stay of the oil depots owned by major oil firms Pilipinas Shell, Chevron Philippines, and Petron Corp., claiming the facilities would pose danger to the residents and to the environment. But on Tuesday, vice mayor Isko Moreno (Francisco Domagoso) said that thousands of workers will lose their jobs if the oil depots were transferred to other areas. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV