City council approves heavy industrial zone within Manila

The City Council of Manila passed Ordinance 8187, creating two zones to operate within the city, one for medium and the other for heavy industrial. Lito Atienza, currently secretary of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), submitted a 51-page petition to the Philippine Supreme Court, questioning the validity and legality of the ordinance. Referring to the relocation of oil refineries and depots from Pandacan, Manila, which Atienza sponsored during his term as city mayor, the DENR secretary said the Supreme Court had already decided the issue with finality. However, the new ordinance which was approved would allow highly pollutive/extremely hazardous industries, such as refineries and oil depots, to operate within the heavy industrial zone. (June 15, 2009)