Petron, Shell and Chevron expressed willingness to shoulder the expenses for an assessment by an independent party of the safety and pollution control aspects of their Pandacan operations, provided that the risk assessor is among the top 10 in the world in order to ensure its competence and credibility.
While the oil companies can confidently assert that the depot exceeds international and Philippine standards on safety and pollution control, they recognise that the communities around the facility and interested stakeholders will find it more credible if the facts come from a reputable and independent body.
The three oil companies have taken extra steps since 2002 to reassure the residents around the Pandacan terminal, by scaling down its operations including the removal of LPG storage, the reduction of other fuel storage tanks, as well as the creation of a green buffer zone.
Beyond these, there are now separate initiatives among the three oil companies to scale down their Pandacan operations further. Petron, for example, is in the process of identifying alternative sites where they can relocate portions of their jet fuel storage operations. This comes as a result of Petron’s commitment to both the Mayor of Manila and to his Eminence Cardinal Rosales that they will reduce the concentration of their inventory facilities in Pandacan. Petron has indicated that it will now work closely with both local and national government officials to coordinate these moves.
The oil companies said that they will ask all stakeholders including the Church, government, business and Manila City Hall officials – from both sides of the debate to participate in the selection process.
They said the entire assessment up to the disclosure of the findings will be completely open and transparent.
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