Manila City Hall says firm behind Pasig River spill had no permits

Inspectors wearing masks arrive at the spill site on Saturday, June 22, 2013. RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines—Heads are expected to roll at Manila City Hall in the aftermath of an extensive oil spill Saturday from a mini-depot in Sta. Ana, Manila, that authorities found was allowed to operate without the proper permits.

City Administrator Jay Marzan said the authorities would investigate how Larraine Marketing, the owner of the mini-depot that released thousands of liters of bunker fuel into the Pasig River, was allowed to operate without the necessary permits “…even if this means our own people (would) be affected.”

Based on their records, the mini-depot has been operating for more than 30 years, although its permit was for the distribution of new petroleum products and “not used oil,” Marzan said.

Some 44,000 liters of used oil and 4,000 liters of sludge oil have been removed from the tank depot, the city administrator said, adding that the depot’s operation has been suspended and the spill contained.

Thousands of liters of bunker fuel spilled Saturday night from the depot’s storage tank on Old Panaderos Street, Sta. Ana, which is along the Pasig River, causing panic among residents and sending at least four people to the hospital due to “breathing difficulties.”

Philippine Coast Guard Rear Adm. Louis Tuason said it would take two to three days for Coast Guard personnel to manually remove the water lilies contaminated with bunker fuel.

Meanwhile, Malacañang confirmed Monday that it was reviewing a controversial proposal to transfer the oil depots out of Pandacan.

“That issue has reached the Office of the President,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a briefing. “That (proposal is) being studied by the Office of the Executive Secretary, and we will let you know the results of that study.”

Lacierda said the review would factor in concerns raised by some oil companies that the transfer would increase transport costs and trigger oil price increases.

In September last year, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim vetoed the ordinance calling for the closure of the Pandacan oil depot, saying the move could give a “bad impression” to businesses and investors.

The veto came a month after the council passed Ordinance No. 8283, reclassifying the area from an industrial to a commercial zone and paving the way for the closure of the depot, which is categorized as “heavy industrial.”

Lacierda said that it was the responsibility of the oil depots to update their safety measures to prevent any untoward incidents.

“I think the oil companies have the responsibility and the technical know-how to ensure the safety of their depot. It is their loss if (an explosion) happens,” he added.—With a report from TJ A. Burgonio