Vol. XXII, No. 166 [ BusinessWorld Online ]
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
THE MANILA city council is scheduled to approve on third reading tomorrow the proposed rezoning ordinance that would effectively allow a major oil depot in Pandacan district to operate, official records show.
The proposed law, authored by Councilor Arlene W. Koa called the Manila Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Rezoning Ordinance, has been approved, 20-11, on second reading on March 19. It seeks to reverse an existing law passed eight years ago.
Ms. Koa filed the proposal in response to the request of Phimco Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of safety matches, to extend its stay in the city, as well as the clamor of several barangays to allow medium and heavy industries to continue in the city to provide employment.
Some councilors have opposed the proposed ordinance for safety reasons.
In 2001, Ordinance 8027 was passed which converted Pandacan and Sta. Ana to commercial from industrial areas, and asked the three oil firms: Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Caltex Philippines (renamed Chevron Philippines, Inc.) and Petron Corp. to vacate the oil depot within a certain period.
Ten days after the ordinance was passed, then Mayor Jose L. Atienza, Jr. signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Energy to allow the three oil firms to stay indefinitely.
In 2006, Ordinance 8119 was passed which ordered all medium and heavy industries to stop their operations and to vacate the city within seven years.
In February 2007, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of Ordinance 8027 and ordered the oil firms to vacate the city.
Council majority leader Ma. Sheilah Lacuna Pangan said that once the ordinance is passed, all medium and heavy industries as well as the three oil firms will be allowed to stay and continue their operations.
Ms. Pangan and Koa were unavailable for comment. — LDD
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