MANILA, May 29, 2009- The Church hierarchy's row with the city officials here intensified after a bishop warned to question before the court the legality of the continued operation of the Pandacan oil depot.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez threatened of a "legal battle" in order to protect the health, security and environment of the residents in a crowded district in the city.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday approved the controversial Ordinance 7177, which enabled the country's major oil companies to retain their depots in Pandacan district.
The bishop said it is ironic that while Clean Air Act ordered the phase out of pollutive industries in the metropolis, officials even allowed the industries to prosper in the city.
"It's clear in the Clean Air Act that this (ordinance) is against the law," Cortez said.
The oil depots that would benefit from the new ordinance are those of Chevron Philippines, Petron and Pilipinas Shell.
Defiant
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim signed Thursday the city ordinance allowing all existing heavy industries in the district, including the oil depot, to continue operating.
Lim said he is concerned of the dire economic implications that the removal of the oil depot could cause.
The official said approving the measure strongly opposed by church leaders and various groups is one of his "most painful decisions" he has ever made.
He said that shutting down the oil terminal, as well as the manufacturing plant of Unilever, will cause thousands of workers to lose their jobs.
According to Lim the city also stands to lose some P100 million a year in real property and income taxes from the industries if he will veto the ordinance.
He also cited the thousands of jobs which will be lost if the depot and other factories will be relocated.
But the Manila Mayor's principles only earned the ire of some church officials.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said Lim should have given primordial consideration to the "safety" of the people around the depot.
Pabillo refused to give further comment on the issue, saying he is still waiting for a consolidated statement among church leaders of the Manila archdiocese.
On Wednesday (May 27), hundreds of people joined a church-organized protest rally at the Bonifacio Shrine to raise their objection to the Pandacan oil depot's continued operation. (Roy Lagarde)