The City Government of Puerto Princesa has granted the request of oil companies in this city for extension of their relocation until May 2026, citing complexity of the legal, technical and infrastructure requirement involved in the relocation.
In his letter to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, City Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron informed that last September 12, 2025, it conducted a dialogue with oil companies to discuss the request for extension of their relocation. Present during the meeting were the different offices of the city government such as the City Planning and Development Coordinator, Office of the Building Official (OBO), City Environment and Natural Resources Office, (City ENRO), City Legal Office, City Engineering Office and the Liga ng mga Barangay. On the part of the oil companies, present are the Shell Pilipinas Corporation, WTEI Enterprises, Inc., Sevenstar Inc., Petron Corporation, and Filoil Energy Corporation.
“Following this engagement, representatives from the oil depot companies conveyed that, although preliminary measures and actions towards compliance had already been initiated, these efforts remained incomplete due to the complexity of the legal, technical, and infrastructure requirement involved in the relocation process. In response to their formal request, it was agreed that a relocation extension would be granted until May 2026, by which time they are expected to have fully complied with all the necessary requirements to ensure the orderly and lawful transfer of their operations to their designated relocation sites,” Mayor Bayron said in his letter.
To recall, sometime in 2020, or five years ago, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) passed Resolution No. 2020-02, recommending for the relocation of all existing fuel depots within the central business district of Puerto Princesa City which pose high risk and danger to human populations, economic activities, and surrounding natural resources.
“The locations of fuel depots in Puerto Princesa City are situated within the urban area, specifically in densely populated urban barangays namely Bagong Silang, Masipag, Maunlad, and Bagong Sikat which are found to be highly exposed to natural hazards such as tsunami and storm surge,” the resolution warned.
Further, the resolution emphasize that presence of these oil depot facilities within a densely populated communities pose continuing risks to health and environmental.
“These facilities present a continuing danger to human health and the environment, not to mention the consequential risks in the event of any natural and human-induced hazards such as but not limited to tsunami, storm surge, fire and threat of terrorism,” the resolution reads.
Mayor Bayron gave the different oil companies within the city’s urban areas to relocate until this year, 2025, however all of them seek for extension of the deadline. The Sangguniang Panlungsod also, in their desire to resolve the matter, they pass a resolution requesting the Office of the City Mayor to hold dialogue with these oil companies.
Liga ng mga Barangay President, Laddy R. Gemang, who was present during the September 12 meeting with oil companies said that the May 2026 deadline is fixed, and those who could not relocate until May 2026, they have the option to rent and utilize an area in Barangay Luzviminda owned by WTEI.
“Napagkasunduan doon na kailangang maka-relocate na ang mga oil depot sa susunod na taon, May 2026. Kung hindi pa sila makatapos ay lilipat pa rin sila kay William Tan. Dahil si Mr. William ay mayroon na syang natapos na pito, na pwede namang rentahan nung mga hindi pa makalipat sa kani-kanilang relocation sites. Ibig sabihin mag-renta sila kay Mr. William,” Gemang explained.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod through the committee on environmental protection and natural resources, chaired by City Councilor Elgin Robert Damasco has authored a resolution supporting the decision of the city mayor, Lucilo R. Bayron in extending the time for the oil companies to transfer their operations to their designated relocation sites until May 2026.
