By Jel Santos
Phoenix Petroleum on Tuesday refuted the claim of the Makati local government that their gasoline station in Barangay Bangkal--which has been recently closed due to a gas leak--has no business permit.
Members of Makati City Bureau of Fire and Protection conducts 'flushing' on the sewerage after a chemical leak at a nearby gas station in Brgy. Bangkal, Evangelista on late Thursday. (Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN)
On Monday, the local government released a closure order against the Phoenix Gasoline Station at the corner of Estrella and Evangelista streets in Barangay Bangkal, Makati. The local government stated in the order that the establishment has been operating without business/mayor's permit.
The order was penned by city administrator Claro Certeza and city legal officer Michael Arthur Camina.
Atty. Raymond T. Zorrilla, SVP for External Affairs of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., told the Manila Bulletin that they have a copy of the business permit issued by no less than the local government of Makati.
"There might just be a miscommunication as we have in our possession a copy of the business permit issued by the city government (of Makati)," he said.
"Nevertheless, we have voluntarily closed the station last Nov. 1 at 6 a.m. prior to the present issuance. Further, we also made the commitment that we shall not resume operations unless internally we are fully satisfied the presence and functionality of our safety procedures as well as obtaining the appropriate consent of the concerned city and other officials," Zorilla added.
Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) Makati recently said the level of diesel fumes diminished due to the drainage system flushing that they conducted.
The Evangelista Street was opened to vehicular traffic on Sunday, November 4. It was cordoned before by authorities after the Bangkal Phoenix Gasoline Station was traced as the source of the leak.
On the other hand, the fire bureau is still determining what caused the leak, and which of Phoenix's four tanks has a leak.