The municipality of Sta. Maria in Bulacan province padlocked a plant producing steel angle bars.
Sta. Maria Mayor Bartolome Ramos, in an order dated Aug. 8, 2024, ordered the suspension of operation of Hightension Industrial Corp., which is a subject of a complaint filed by environmental NGO SEEDS PH for allegedly operating without an updated environmental clearance certificate (ECC) and permits to operate pollution-control facilities.
SEEDS PH alleged that Hightension was selling and producing angle bars using induction furnace, which was banned in China and a town in Pampanga.
Sta. Maria officials served the cease-and-desist order to Hightension and placed a tarpaulin on its gate giving notice that the “establishment has been ordered closed due to violations of Municipal Ordinance 404, or the Revenue Code of Sta. Maria, Bulacan; Municipal Ordinance no. 137, or the Environmental Code of Sta. Maria; Presidential Decree 1586, or the Environmental Impact Statement System; PD 856, or the Sanitary Code of the Philippines; PD 1096, or the National Building Code of the Philippines; and Republic Act 7160, or the Real Property Tax Code.”
“In connection to this, I hereby order to temporarily suspend your business operations effective immediately until compliance of deficient documents. Please be reminded that failure to abide this order, the municipality may take legal action on this matter,” Ramos said in his order.
SEEDS PH earlier called on local government units and concerned regulators to ban the use of obsolete induction furnaces (IFs) in steel smelting and production, similar to what was done in China and Pampanga.
