Batangas Residents implores DOH to ensure an impartial investigation on health impacts of fossil gas in Batangas City

Manila, Philippines — Residents from Batangas gathered in front of the Department of Health’s (DOH) Central Office in Sta. Cruz, Manila to demonstrate their support for the DOH’s investigation into the health impacts of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the communities hosting LNG power plants. The communities were joined by representatives from the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) and the Break Free from Fossil Gas movement.

This investigation was announced in a press release by DOH CALABARZON on August 18, following PMCJ’s sign-on campaign launched on August 17 to declare a public health emergency in Batangas due to the rising cases of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases brought on by prolonged exposure to fossil gas. The communities reiterated their support for this and pledged to cooperate with authorities in ensuring an impartial investigation of the affected communities.

The groups also noted the disparity between the stance of the DOH Central Office and the Batangas City Health Office. The DOH, in their pronouncement back in September 2022, stated that the country has been “seeing the rise of respiratory illnesses due to air pollution, of which fossil fuel is a major contributor.” Maria Rosario Vergeire, the officer-in-charge at the time, also announced the DOH’s support for the call of the World Health Organization (WHO) to create a national action plan for the phaseout of fossil fuels, including LNG.

Meanwhile, DOH CALABARZON Regional Director Ariel I. Valencia said last August 18 said that “initially based on the pooled data of morbidity and mortality cases from the city health office, wala pa tayong nakita na maaari nating ma-link sa power plant operation.” The Batangas City Health Office likewise denied releasing the 2017-2021 data that shows the increased cases of respiratory diseases in the communities of Ilijan, Malitam, Sta. Rita Karsada, Tabangao Ambulong, and Tabangao Aplaya, despite documentation that the transmission of this data happened on October 24, 2022. In light of this blatant misinformation, the citizens of Batangas and concerned organizations called for the DOH to form an independent and unbiased investigative body to look into the health emergency.

The residents also reinforced the call to declare a public health emergency in Batangas, and to immediately remedy the rising death toll caused by prolonged exposure to fossil gas. Urgency is demanded as more LNG plants are planned for development in the area, which will only aggravate this health crisis.

For inquiries

Raymond Ruedas
mediacommunications@climatejustice.ph
09274382015

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Editorial

I join the demand and support of the residents of Batangas in imploring the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure an impartial investigation regarding the health impacts of fossil gas in Batangas City.

The development of Fossil Gas and LNG plants and facilities in Batangas is not only a danger to human health but also to the environment.  I know that we have a looming power crisis and that we need immediate solutions to the problem, however, solutions should not come at the expense of both the environment and public health.

Projects like this demand consultation among the citizens and the approval of the communities.  Remember that elected officials should represent the people that elected them, and when these officials can no longer do so as deemed by the citizens they can demand action and eventually remove these people from power.