Request of Petro de Oro Corp to be exempt from foreshore lease suspension endorsed

THE request of Petro de Oro Corporation for an exemption from the City Council’s resolution suspending the process of foreshore lease application was endorsed by the City Council Committee on Subdivision and Landed Estate for approval.

The Gavel learned that the corporation submitted its miscellaneous lease application to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). However, the DENR required a resolution from the City Council to interpose no objection to the application, since it conflicts with the resolution of the legislative body.

It may be recalled that the City Council adopted Resolution No. 14581-2023 requesting the DENR to suspend the processing of foreshore lease applications covering any areas from Barangay Lapasan to Barangay Bugo effective June 1, 2023 in view of the proposed land reclamation project.

During the recent meeting, a representative of the corporation cited that the company has been operating for many years now and needs the foreshore area to continue its operation. Councilor Cabanlas informed the committee that the company supplies the bulk of oil for Cagayan de Oro and Mindanao. He said they have a piping facility that would extract oil from the import vessel down to their storage facility.

“Ang Petro de Oro nag apply for foreshore lease to legalize their operation sa Tablon area. However, it was overtaken by the resolution which bans further application for foreshore lease because we intend to reclaim the entire area. But we cannot force to stop them kay nag operate nara ba na sila diha,” Cabanlas stressed.

ASSURANCE

While supporting the approval of the request, Councilor Aga Suan asked for assurance from the company that it would not be affected when the city will reclaim the entire area.

A representative of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assured that it would not affect the reclamation project, since the design of the viaduct, which is 20 meters more or less, is safe.

With this, the request was referred to the Committee on Laws and Rules also chaired by Councilor Cabanlas for appropriate action.