A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking to enjoin the Manila City Council from amending Ordinance 8027 which orders country?s three major oil firms to leave Pandacan depot.

In its pleading, Social Justice System through lawyer Vladimir Alarique Cabigao informed the high tribunal that a proposed measure has been filed by Councilor Arlene Koa seeking to revert the land classification of the place to industrial use.

The petitioner said an amendment to create a medium and heavy industrial zone would allow the oil firms to stay put despite the SC?s decision ordering city hall to work out the relocation of the 36-hectare oil terminal.

?It is very clear that the City of Manila?s mandate under its charter is to enact ordinances for the safety and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants... despite the classification of the petroleum refineries and oil depots as highly pollutive/extremely hazardous industries in the proposed ordinance, the same still opts to retain them in the City of Manila by reclassifying their land use to industrial use, thereby placing in danger the safety and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants,? SJS said.

The petition noted that Koa?s proposal was attempting to avoid the implementation of the SC?s ruling issued in March 2007 and affirmed on Feb. 13 last year, upholding the validity of Ordinance 8027.

The measure reclassified portions of Pandacan and Sta. Ana from industrial to commercial and directed business locators, including Caltex (Philippines Inc.), Petron Corp. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. to cease operations within six months from the ordinance?s effectivity on Dec. 28, 2001.

Earlier, the high court ruled that the right to life ?enjoys precedence over the right to property? of the oil companies. Rey E. Requejo