ENVIRONMENT Secretary Regina Lopez on Thursday said she would soon issue a permit to allow Petron Corp. to transfer an ash stockpile at its Limay, Bataan refinery to a cement plant in the same complex. Following a dialogue with residents near the refinery, Lopez said she would ask Ramon Ang, president of Petron’s parent San Miguel Corp., to submit an application to transport the ash, which would be processed immediately. Petron and SMC Consolidated are subsidiaries of San Miguel, one of the country’s biggest conglomerates. EMB Acting Director Jacqueline Caancan said the bureau would have to make sure the ash being released from the refinery complex is not toxic. On Wednesday, Ang denied that Petron was causing environmental and health problems in Limay.

Source: Manila Times January 12, 2017 17:09 UTC