PANDACAN OIL DEPOT

A CENTURY -OLD CHALLENGE/ The oil depots in Pandacan

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/65774/a-century-old-challenge--the-oil-depots-in-pandacan
One Saturday night, on June 22, a strong stench assaulted the senses of residents of Pandacan
and Sta. Ana, Manila. By this time, people in the area have been used to the odor as that coming
from one of the giant oil depots that lie on the banks of the Pasig River. But this time, the odor
was intense and alarming. News spread like wildfire that there could be a gas leak or something
worse. Concerned, people in the neighborhood took to calling, texting, and posting to find out
what happened. Finally, after a sleepless night, they found out Sunday morning the cause of the
stench: 1,000 liters of used bunker oil were spilled into the river from a warehouse in Old
Panaderos. The problem has apparently been contained, yet it is asymptomatic of a disease that
has been festering in the heart of Manila -- for the past 100 years.
A neighborhood rich in history
The genesis of Pandacan can be traced back to the year 1574, initially part of the Roman
Catholic mission in Sampaloc. Due to the many canals formed by tributaries of the Pasig River,
it was once called Little Venice or Little Italy. The father of Philippine verse, Francisco
Balagtas, lived here -- this is where he fell in love with his muse, Selya.
Pandacan was also home to one-third of the heroic Gomburza: Father Jacinto Zamora. Other
prominent Pandacan residents include the father of Philippine Opera Ladislao Bonus, pioneering
Filipina doctor Paz Mendoza Guazon, revolutionary leader Apolinario Mabini, and sports
celebrity Jacinto Ciria-Cruz.
In Noli Me Tangere, Jose Rizal mentioned Beata River, the same place where Balagtas went
boating and wooed his Selya. Now, these scenes are difficult to imagine. All we can see are
floating water lilies in the murky waters where nothing else seems to live. Worse, oil and solid
waste bob over these dead waters.
What used to be a farming community became partly industrial during the American occupation.
Shell established facilities in 1914, Caltex (now Chevron) in 1917, and Petron in 1922. The area
was destroyed as a consequence of the Second World War but revived soon after.
The Pandacan oil depot
What is collectively called the Pandacan Oil Depot is a 33-hectare compound that houses the
storage facilities and distribution terminals of the so-called Big 3: Chevron, Petron, and Shell.
Here, 313 million liters of gasoline, diesel, bunker fuel, jet fuel, and other highly volatile
chemical substances can be found.
The guarded and fenced facility is in the city of Manila, in close proximity to densely populated
areas Pandacan, Paco, Sta. Mesa, and Sta. Ana. Along the same riverbank, less than two
kilometers away, lies the seat of the nations power, Malacaang Palace.
The First Philippine Industrial Corporation (FPIC) is in charge of the underground pipeline
system that runs from the oil refineries in Batangas to the Pandacan oil depot.
Incidents and ordinances
Over the years, several incidents related to the oil depot have caused damage to property and
threatened the lives of people. In February 1997, two Shell oil tankers exploded inside their
premises of the oil depot complex. In 1999, a pipeline leak was the source of fires in Muntinlupa
City with one fatality. In January 2008, a tanker burst into flames at the foot of the Nagtahan fly-
over, killing one and wounding another. Not too long ago, in July 2010, the FPIC underground
pipeline leak caused panic and anxiety among residents as water mixed with oil in the basement
of the West Tower Condominium in Barangay Bangkal, Makati.
In 2001, the Manila City Council passed Ordinance No. 8027 that re-classified Pandacan from an
industrial to a commercial area. It gave the giant oil companies six months to vacate the area. In
2006, Ordinance No. 8119 ordered the phasing out of hazardous industries in the city, including
the oil depot. In March 2009, Ordinance 8027 was upheld by the Supreme Court; while the City
Council passed Ordinance No. 8187 to negate the SC message of primacy of life over the interest
of private companies. This time, the area was re-classified as a heavy industrial zone -- allowing
highly pollutive and extremely hazardous industries to operate here, including oil refineries.
Thus, this allowed the oil depot to remain.
In late 2012, Ordinance No. 8283 re-classified the area as a high-intensity commercial zone, thus
giving the oil depot until 2016 to relocate, but it was vetoed by outgoing Mayor Alfredo Lim.
Instead, proposals have been set forth to transfer the facilities to the North Harbor, still in the
City of Manila. However, this is likewise a highly populated area and would not eradicate the
hazards to life and property.
In 2005, the University of the Philippines College of Medicine conducted the study, A Cross-
Sectional Study on the Neurophysical Effects of Exposure to Refined Petroleum Products
Amongst Adult Residents in Three Barangays near the Pandacan Oil Depot. Among the studys
findings is that the number of cases of neurophysical disorders in the area have been
progressively increasing. In the same year, a health survey proved that the air in and surrounding
the oil depot contain high levels of Benzene. Benzene is known to increase the risk of cancer and
wreaks havoc on the nervous, respiratory, and immune systems.
The lament of Pandacan residents
At present, an estimated 85,000 people live in Pandacan. Nearby, there are elementary and high
schools, and across the Pasig River is the Polytechnic University of the Philippines with more
than 60,000 students.
There have been consistent calls from civic and church groups for relocation of the oil depot to
an area far from the general population where it will not cause hazards to health, lives, and
properties.
Counter-arguments claim that this will mean a loss of income for the residents and the city.
However, Antonio Santos, lifelong resident of Pandacan and president of AESJ (Advocates for
Environmental and Social Justice) said: Only real estate taxes are paid to the City of Manila, the
company taxes are paid to the City of Makati, where the companies are headquartered. And only
1,500 workers are employed within the oil depot -- many of them, not even residents of Manila,
let alone Pandacan.
AESJ is a coalition of organizations including South Balagtas Neighborhood Association
(SBNA), Samahang Sariling Sikap, Movement for the Advancement of Student Power (MASP),
Teatro Balagtas (TBP), and Akbayan Dist. VI. It has been very vocal about the need to remove
and rehabilitate the area known as the Pandacan Oil Depot.
They have worked with many experts to draw up plans not only to remove the hazardous
facilities but also to utilize the area that will be vacated.
According to Santos, jobs will surely increase when the large complex is opened up to businesses
as well as sports complex, cultural venues, entertainment centers, parks, hospital, schools, and
low-cost housing. Not to mention, the unquantifiable benefits of a cleaner environment.
Recent events have caused another stir in this century-old issue. Maybe this time, the studies will
yield fruitful action that will benefit the majority of the stakeholders and citizens
Manila Clergy renews call vs Pandacan depot
The Archdiocese of Manila on Friday reaffirmed its stand against the continued operation of the
Pandacan oil depot, saying it remains a grave threat to residents and the environment.
In a statement issued days after former President Joseph Estrada took over as the citys new
mayor, the archdiocese voiced its concern over what it considered to be the lukewarm attitude
shown by both the national and local governments on the issue.
[We] are concerned that the national and local government units only act when actual oil spills
occur, it said.
Last month, a mini-depot at the site, the one owned by Larraine Marketing, was found to have
released thousands of liters of bunker fuel into the Pasig River while emitting gas fumes that
caused panic among residents.
At least four residents were hospitalized after experiencing difficulty in breathing. The oil spill
also prompted an investigation by the city government.
It is sad that action is only taken when damage has been done. What good governance urges are
preventive action, sanction to the damaging company and more importantly, a pro people, pro
poor development plan for the 33-hectare (area) once the oil depots relocate, it stressed.
Under the leadership of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the archdiocese is set
to hold a series of activities starting Aug. 31 dubbed Season of Creation, which will promote
environmental causes in seminaries, parishes and communities.
The archdiocese reiterated calls for the repeal of City Ordinance 8187 which classified Pandacan
as an industrial zone, and for the strict enforcement of the Clean Water Act and Hazardous
Waste Act.
In September last year, then Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim vetoed the ordinance which calls for the
depots closure, saying the move might give a bad impression among businesses and investors.
The veto came a month after the council passed Ordinance 8283 reclassifying the area from
being an industrial to a commercial zone and paving the way for the depots shutdown.
Lim said he based his decision on the recommendations of then city legal officer Renato de la
Cruz and secretary to the mayor, Rafaelito Garayblas.
De la Cruz then explained that Ordinance 8283 failed to consider how the city would cope with
the loss of income resulting from the depots closure and how its relocation would affect the fuel
distribution system and even raise fuel prices in Metro Manila. With a report from Inquirer
Research

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