Manila dads tighten rules on special permits

MANILA, Philippines—Establishments requiring special use permits (SUPs) such as funeral homes and cell towers will have to renew their licenses with the Manila City Council under a measure approved on third and final reading last week.

The measure amended Section 52 of the Manila Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance, which was previously silent on who should issue the SUP.

“They said it’s supposed to be the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO),” Councilor Joel Chua, one of the proponents, said. “But in other cities, it’s the city council.”

“The intention is to have a stringent process because these establishments covered by SUP are deemed to pose health hazards,” he added.

The city council will hold public hearings for SUP applications to make sure there is no opposition from residents, he said. Under the current system, the CPDO issued the permit.

He noted that there have been complaints against funeral homes operating in residential areas as well as concern over the adverse effects of cell sites on people’s health.

Establishments that require a permit are transfer stations for waste cargo, materials recovery facilities, radio transmitting stations/telecommunication towers, private heliports, filling stations, open storage, slaughterhouses and funeral homes.

Upon effectivity of the ordinance, all SUPs will be deemed expired and should be renewed in 30 days. The permits should also be renewed every three years.