SP refers complaint vs gas station to HLURB
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has referred the complaint of the residents against the construction of a gasoline refilling station in Barangay Dulonan, Arevalo to the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB). This, even though the City Zoning Board of Appeals and Adjustment (CZBAA) has already issued a Special Use Permit to the proponent Santos Petroleum Corporation.
In last Wednesday's regular session, the council decided to refer the complaint to the HLURB upon the suggestion of Majority Floor Leader Eduardo Peñaredondo.
The oppositors led by Benjamin Gulmatico trooped to the SP session hall Wednesday to attend the council's regular session.
Antiquiera informed the body that the site of the proposed gasoline station is still a residential area and not a commercial area. The matter should have been considered by the City Zoning before it issued and affirmed the Special Use Permit for the Total Gasoline Station owned by Jose Santos, he said.
The HLURB is the right body to review and act on the decision made by CZBAA and of the city council, said Peñaredondo. His suggestion was concurred by the members of the legislative body without much discussions on the CZBAA's action. Councilor Antonio Pesina said the proposed gasoline station is a "fire cracker zone."
On his part, Councilor Jose Espinosa III said the CZBAA must have called Jose Roni Peñalosa, chief of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) before granting the Special Use Permit. The matter reached the CZBAA because the CPDO objected to the establishment of the proposed gasoline station.
The CZBAA should have required the presence of the zoning officer for a review on the proposed gasoline station before approving any permit. The zoning officer will act as "prosecutor" for his refusal to grant the required permit. It also requires appearances of the oppositors and the proponent, said Espinosa.
A letter sent by OIC Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Regional Director Bienvinido Lipayon to the proponent stressed that the proponent "need to secure all necessary permits/clearances from pertinent government agencies prior to project implementation." Lipayon's letter was relative to the issuance of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to the proposed Total Gasoline Station. The ECC was granted last October 10, 2007.
The project proponent for the Total Gasoline Station is Rowland Kim Santos. The project covers a total land area of 1,500 square meters. It includes five fuel underground storage tanks with a total of 80,000 liters capacity, six dispensing pumps, one unit office building and four unit of pumping/refilling station. The proposed gasoline station has also a public toilets and standby power utilities. The construction has already started