Group prods 'Big 3' oil firms to insure people near oil depot

More than 84,000 people living around the Pandacan oil depot face imminent hazards that the “Big 3" oil companies must cover them with life insurance, a nongovernment group said Monday. The depot is endangering the lives of people in the area, Tony Santos, chairperson of Manila-based nongovernmental organization Advocates for Environmental and Social Justice, told reporters in a press briefing. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Chevron Philippines (formerly Caltex), and Petron Corp. should entitle each resident a P250,000 life insurance coverage, he said. "If they cannot give this to us, they better leave the depot and find their new storage site out of the bustling city," Santos pointed out. The oil firms, also known as the Big 3, have long been under pressure to relocate the depot out of Manila since the operations of a fuel storage facility present a clear and present danger to the city, according to the local government of Manila. Officials of the three oil firms contacted by GMANews.TV refused to make a statement other than saying that they first need to see the residents’ petition for life insurance coverage. The residents will convey their proposal to the Big 3 at “the soonest possible time," Santos said. "The Pandacan oil depot is a ticking time bomb. A major explosion in the depot has the potential of wreaking havoc to the surrounding communities," Santos said. The loading bay of Chevron fuel tankers is on a main and busy thoroughfare of Pandacan, and its storage tanks are "very near" a church-run high school of 3,000 students, he explained. Accidents have occurred in the past within and outside the Pandacan oil depot, including explosions along its pipeline from Batangas province, leaks in its storage tanks, and exploding tankers on the road, Santos said. "These accidents have claimed lives, injured many, and destroyed substantial property. But they are as yet simply lucky close calls," Santos said. He pointed out that the Pandacan oil depot is a viable terrorist target that may result in "the biggest disaster waiting to happen in the petrochemical industry." Last week, the US, UK, France, Canada, Netherlands, Australia US issued travel warnings to their respective nationals against Manila and some parts of Mindanao face possible attacks by terrorists. The 36-hectare depot serves as strorage for 313 million liters of gasoline, diesel, bunker fuel, jet fuel, and other highly volatile chemicals. — VS, GMANews.TV