DOE moves to protect future oil depot site from zoning changes

The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) urged the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to declare oil depots and refineries as projects of national significance. The move is to ensure that the facilities will not be affected by zoning ordinances, DOE said. The request came as the city council of Manila failed to pass an ordinance that would have allowed the three major oil companies-Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Petron Corp. and Chevron Corp.-to stay in Pandacan despite a Supreme Court ruling ordering them to move out. Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said such a move could not be applied retroactively to the Pandacan depot, but would apply to its relocation site. More than 1,800 retail stations in Regions 1 to 4, of which around 500 are in Metro Manila, get their fuel supply from the facility. Earlier, Pilipinas Shell said it will comply with the Supreme Court order on the closure of the depot. (May 8/13, 2009)