BATANGAS CITY (PIA) – The Department of Health in Calabarzon has found no evidence showing that the reported cases of respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses in Batangas City had been caused by fossil fuel exposure from liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants operating in the city. 

The DOH-Center for Health Development in the region sent a team in Batangas City on August 18 to look into claims that increased respiratory and cardiovascular diseases were linked to the LNG power plants.

Dr. Ariel Valencia, DOH Calabarzon Director, said the team, composed of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management in Health (DRRM-H), Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU), and the non-communicable disease cluster, found no direct link between the reported cases and the power plants.

"Initially, based on the pooled data of morbidity and mortality cases from the city health office wala pa tayong nakita na maari nating ma-link sa power plant operation. But, it would still take some time to validate the claim. Titingnan pa natin ang other relevant documents such as the baseline data on air and water quality, and most importantly, check on the health of the affected communities,” Valencia, said, in a statement. 

Dr. Voltaire Guadalupe, the DOH team leader sent to validate the cases, also belied claims of increased respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Batangas City based on submitted reports.

“There is no evidence of any link (between the LNG power plant and illnesses) nor there is any increase in the number of cases,” Guadalupe said.  

He added, the DOH continues to look into other factors that are causing people in the area to get sick.

“It is expected that people will get sick or die. But we cannot see an increase in cases nor can we attribute these cases to the operation of power plants,” Guadalupe added.

“We are looking into seasonal (causes), baka kasi sa panahon (kaya nagkakasakit). Baka may iba ding factors like change in life style… baka yung environment. Hindi pa po natin masasabi na unusual but maraming pagbabago (katulad ng klima) at alam naman natin na may Covid-19 (in the past).” 

Guadalupe pointed out that people working in the power plants could be the first to get ill if the diseases are linked to the plants.

“Assuming lang na may link sa LNG yung diseases, ang unang-una magkakasakit dyan ay yung mga trabahador sa planta at nakatira sa paligid ng plant, so that is one of things that we shall be looking into,” he added.

The DOH said it will provide baseline data on its initial assessment after it had visited two power plants and surrounding barangays.

Guadalupe cited that the Linseed Field Power Corporation, located in Baragay Ilijan, has just been barely a month in operation. 

“Halos isang buwan palang nag-ooperate yung planta, therefore mahirap masabi (na may link ang planta sa mga nagkasakit) unless we are able to find those individuals na nagsasabi na sila ay nagkasakit,” he added.

The Batangas City Health Office also issued a statement in January saying that “it found no evidence-based data indicating that the reported Influenza-like illness (ILI) cases in five barangays in Batangas City are directly caused by fossil gas power plants.” 

Reports said Batangas City is host to five LNG power plants located in barangays Ilijan, Sta. Rita Aplaya, Malitam, Tabangao Ambulong and Tabangao Aplaya. 

The DOH has advised residents near the power plants to exercise vigilance even as it assured the community that the health department is working on their safety. 

“Maging alerto po tayo, makiramdam, magmatyag at magreport sa pinakamalapit na health worker kung meron tayong nararamdaman,” Guadalupe said. (AM/PIA IV-A)