Limay Vice Mayor Richie David pushes for Petron refinery. Photo by Ernie Esconde
LIMAY, Bataan — The local government unit here on Wednesday expressed readiness to help in preventing the closure next month of the Petron refinery located in Barangay Alangan.
Limay Vice Mayor Richie David said they are open to how they could be of assistance to both workers and the firm that operates the biggest and only remaining oil refinery in the country.
He said that a group of workers came to the office of his father, Mayor Nelson David, about a week ago while representatives of Petron and San Miguel Corp. were in the municipal hall only last Monday.
The two groups both have one agenda – how to save the refinery – for its closure will mean not only job dislocation but will affect not only the economy of Limay and Bataan but that of the country, the vice mayor said.
He said that Petron has some problems on taxation coupled with the prolonged decline in demand for diesel fuel due to the continuing effect of the pandemic that further worsened the refinery’s financial woes.
“Gusto namin na ang Petron ay makarekober at kapag nakabawi ay magkakaroon ito ng domino effect sa kabutihan ng mga empleyado at local business,” David said.
He disclosed that they are studying the proposal of the company, with the workers’ support, for the refinery to be reclassified as part of the Freeport Area of Bataan.
“Nasa gitna pa ng pag-uusap pero masasabi ko na doon na rin naman papunta at pumapayag na kami. Pinag-aaralang mabuti ito kasama si mayor at mga konsehal. Sa pagkakaalam ko ito na rin ang gustong mangyari ng provincial government,” David said of the proposal.
Asked on how much revenue will be lost to Limay should the refinery closure push through, the vice mayor said he could not yet say the total amount but that municipal officials are presently focused on studying the effect of the shutdown to the LGU and its residents and how to save the oil plant.
“Makakaasa kayo na kami ay magiging boses ninyo at hindi naman din kami hihinto at araw-araw ay bukas ang tanggapan namin para pakinggan kayo. Malaman lang namin ang suhestiyon ninyo, ang sitwasyon ninyo nang sa ganon hindi man siguro kami malaki o malakas na boses pero mananatili kaming representante ninyong lahat,” David assured workers.
Media reports have quoted Petron Corp. president Ramon Ang as having announced the closure of the refinery on January 2021.
