Tuesday, June 2, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES [ BusinessWorld Online ]
SOME MANILA residents, led by nongovernmental group Social Justice Society, have asked the Supreme Court to quash a new ordinance sustaining the oil depot’s operation in Pandacan district.
In a 10-page petition filed yesterday, the group responsible for haling to court the safety repercussions of the continued stay of Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., and Chevron Philippines, Inc. in Pandacan, said the city government disregarded the welfare of its people in enacting Ordinance 7177 on Thursday.
"It is clear the city council of Manila can only legislate to promote the general welfare and not to enact measures, like Ordinance 7177, that constantly and perennially expose the inhabitants to serious physical danger," the group said.
Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim signed into law Ordinance 7177 that ensured the continued operation of all medium and heavy industries, including the oil depot.
He said vetoing the new ordinance would send wrong signals to investors who are providing jobs.
The new law reversed Ordinance 8027, which the high court recently upheld, to protect residents from the impact of terrorist attacks in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the US.
On April 28, the high court affirmed its decision booting out the oil firms from Pandacan.
In a statement, Mr. Lim defended his decision "This is a free country. We welcome suits or complaints as these will give us the opportunity to prove that what we are doing is for the good of the greater majority."
He said his predecessor, now Environment Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr., left him with a P1.4-billion deficit, thus the city government could not afford to lose over P200 million in much-needed taxes should the major industries leave. — Ira P. Pedrasa
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