CITY OF SAN FERNANDO The proposed measure requiring steel plants to modernize their air pollution control devices (APCDs) is now officially an ordinance.
This, after Mayor Abundio “JP” Punsalan Jr. signed Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Ordinance No. ‘23-003.
The said ordinance has been pending at the Office of the Mayor since February 2 after it was unanimously approved by the local council.
Punsalan had 10 working days or until February 13 to act on the SB ordinance.
On the last day of deadline, Punsalan only forwarded a manifesto describing the ordinance as “vague”.
He asked the SB members to define the terms used in the ordinance for clarity.
This prompted the local council to revise the ordinance on its session on February 13 afternoon.
Among the additions in the revised ordinance included the ban on the use of induction furnace as part of the modernization plan.
Induction furnace is where steel plants melt and form metals or steel billets to make steel bars.
The ban on the said methodology will let steel plants upgrade to modern production machinery and equipment attuned to environment-protective technology, the ordinance read.
Aside from this, the SB members gave the sole mandate to Punsalan to issue Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the ordinance.
The revised SB Ordinance No. ‘23-003 was approved by Punsalan on Thursday, February 16.
Once the ordinance is implemented, steel plants have two years to comply or face cancellation of their Mayor’s Permit.