The establishment and operation of FilOil depot in Bien Unido town is in order, complying with all the necessary legal and environmental requirements for its safe operation and those of the surroundings and the inhabitants, officials said.

This surfaced during the hearing of the committee of the whole of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last week following the complaint of the barangay officials against the establishment of said storehouse.

The storage facility was granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) No. ECC-RO7-1412-0260 issued on December 12, 2014 by regional director Engr. William Cuñado of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) based on Presidential Decree No. 1586.

FilOil president David S. Dualan received from Cunado the said ECC thru a formal letter dated Dec. 12, 2014. “After satisfying the requirements in the said application and upon the recommendation of EMB, this department has decided to grant an ECC to the above-mentioned project.”

This dispelled the residents’ apprehension over environmental hazard, health and sanitation of the vicinity where the depot is situated.

POLITICAL PLAY?

 Officials here smelled politics on why raising this concern only now by incumbent barangay chairman Danilo Angco, who is on the opposite side of political fence here, former mayor and now provincial Board Member Nino Rey Boniel said.

Boniel said that in fact former barangay officials led by barangay chair Prescillo S. Avenido passed Resolution No. 16, series of 2012 when the facility was first conceived.

The Resolution reads: “endorsing favorable approval of the foreshore lease application of Johver Mining Corp. an area of 2,100 square meters and support the establishment to be developed as fuel storage facility located at barangay Puerto San Pedro, Bein-Unido, Bohol.” Avenido and village secretary Mirasol Esto signed the aforesaid Resolution.

FilOil also secure Municipal Resolution No. 2013-19B, expressing full support and approval for the FilOil Bien-Unido depot project located at said place and “allowing the FilOil company to use the municipal port and its cargo line along the provincial road plus the municipal road.”

The grant of the establishment of the depot is conditioned that the company complies with the ECC issued by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR for safety, health and welfare of the residents.

It said that with the presence of the depot job opportunities are expected to prevent out migration of its young which is a major concern here, aside from the economic development it generates.

The said Resolution was signed by Boniel and Vice-Mayor Rene B. Borenaga, presiding officer of the Sangguniang Bayan and certified by SB secretary Zosima A. Del Rosario. (with reports from RVO)