The deadline for oil depot operators in Puerto Princesa City to relocate their facilities has passed, but Mayor Lucilo Bayron said the long-delayed transfer will finally push through next year after companies assured him that they are completing the required documents.
Bayron said Monday during the regular flag raising ceremony at the City Hall that representatives from FilOil Energy Corporation recently met with him and explained that they are finalizing permit applications for their new site in Barangay Luzviminda.
The mayor said William Tan Enterprises Inc. (WTEI) expects its new depot to be operational by mid-2026, while FilOil targets completion by December next year.
“Para sa inyong information, di ba gusto nating ilipat sana at may deadline na nga na lumagpas na ‘yung lahat ng depot kasi nasa danger zone sila dahil populated na ‘yung area na nandoon ang mga depot,” Bayron said.
“‘Yung William Tan [WTEI Enterprises] possible na by mid next year, operational na’yun at isasara na ‘yung depot dito na ginagamit ng William Tan. ‘Yun namang FilOil ang sabi, hanggang December next year kasi inaayos nila ‘yung mga documents,” he said.
Bayron added that other depot operators might temporarily share facilities in Luzviminda while searching for their own locations.
The city government earlier gave Shell, Petron, Caltex, WTEI Enterprises, and Filoil Energy Corporation until July 31 to vacate their current sites in Barangay Masipag, where oil depots sit close to homes and businesses.
“Yung ibang depot dyan na walang movement, ang plano nila ay sasama nalang muna doon sa mga depot na itatayo pansamantala siguro hanggang sa makakita sila ng kanilang site,” he said.
A study by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) warned that about 6,000 households in 20 barangays could be affected if a fire or explosion occurred in the area.
The relocation order stemmed from growing safety concerns raised by the City Council and local residents.
Councilor Elgin Damasco earlier called for an inquiry after most depot operators failed to comply with the deadline, saying their presence in crowded areas puts thousands of people at risk.
He said only WTEI Caltex has begun transferring to Luzviminda, while others have made no progress. Damasco cited findings from the CDRRMO showing that an explosion in one depot could destroy structures within a one-kilometer radius, including areas near the provincial Capitol.
The move to Luzviminda, however, is opposed by the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), which claims the site overlaps with mangrove areas and involves reclamation without the necessary permits.
ELAC Executive Director Atty. Grizelda Mayo-Anda said her group has asked government agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS), to look into the ongoing activities in the area.
In response, WTEI maintained that its project is on titled industrial land and complies with all environmental and safety standards. The company said it is securing all required permits and clearances.
At least four major oil companies—Caltex, Filoil, Petron, and Shell—still operate depots in Barangay Masipag, which the city government has identified as a danger zone due to nearby residential expansion.
