SAN SIMON, Pampanga – The sangguniang bayan here recently passed an ordinance requiring smelting plants and steel factories to upgrade their “otherwise outmoded air pollution control devices (ACPD’s) at the soonest possible time.”
Coming in the wake of growing complaints of illnesses among the residents, SB Ordinance No. ‘23-003, titled “Strengthening the Modernization of Smelting Metal Scrap in San Simon” unanimously approved by the municipal council on Feb. 1 serves as a “necessary step to curtail and impede massive environmental and health risks among residents” of the bustling industrial town.
The ordinance was sent to Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. on Feb. 2. He has, by law, 10 days within which to approve or veto the measure, in which case it will lapse into law.
The plants are ordered immediately rehabilitate and improve their APCDs to make it suitable and appropriate based on the type, size and scale of production activities.
Another requirement is to for the plants to create contingency plans to manage any failure of the ACPDs and limit the adverse impact on the environment. Part of the contingency plan in case of ACPD malfunction is shutting down the plant until necessary repairs are completed.
The ordinance stated that these ACPDs shall also be well maintained, and their operation adequately monitored and manned, by personnel who are trained in pollution control system.
The assigned personnel from the municipality shall in turn monitor the amount of smoke emitted from the chimney of the smelting plant to make sure that it shall not be beyond the reasonable limit allowed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, according to the ordinance.
Incentive
As a form of incentive to companies who are going to invest, install and modernize the manufacturing of billets attuned to the latest environment-protective technology, they will be given a discount in their business tax for three years.
They will also be given a discount on the share of the real property tax and other regulatory fees imposed by the municipality also for three years.
Other measures include sealing of the roof of the structure where the production activities take place to prevent the passage of dust and other fumes during the inevitable malfunctioning of the ACPD.
On the part of the LGU, it should closely monitor any deviation on the steel plant’s commitment in their environmental management plan. The installation of continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) and CCTV are also required. Records and information shall be forwarded to the Office of the Mayor on a regular weekly basis.
Under the ordinance, the steel companies, which will venture into modernization are further encouraged to venture in the use of renewable energy and undertake corporate social responsibility to fully enjoy the credit of the incentive mentioned above. The plants were given two years to comply with the ordinance and rehabilitate their APCDs.
Earlier, Melters Steel Corp. and Wan Chiong Steel Corp. admitted to experiencing “issues” on the operation of their ACPDs, particularly their bag filters, which have resulted to massive air pollution over the past weeks.
The two erring Chinese-owned companies committed to submit a compliance action plan to prevent excessive fugitive emissions and dark smoke within two weeks.
The steel companies likewise acknowledged the findings of an investigating team assigned by Environmental Management Bureau officials in their respective violations to RA 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act.
Pollution Control Officers Mia Portia Joela T. Cabunilas of Wan Chiong and Neil L. Ricohermoso of Melters said both their companies will cease and desist from operations immediately in the event of a breakdown of their ACPDs, and to submit an emission test to be conducted every week for three consecutive weeks immediately after repair of their APCDs, and submit the result every week. Punto News Team
