HOUSE BILL NO.

7788 “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF THE

LINGAYEN GULF INTERNATIONAL TRANSHIPMENT PORT DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN

Comments and recommendations:

 The bill should be supported by a comprehensive Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) that would
highly justify the establishment of the proposed international transshipment port facility
considering its effects on the coastal environment and urban/peri-urban cities.
 The bill should also specify how it would complement in terms of services and contribution
to Philippine economic development with the existing Industrial Port in Batangas City – the
largest seaport in CALABARZON that could rival the international seaport of Singapore.
 As proven by studies, heavy industries in general like oil refineries and petrochemical plants
cause environmental pollution and adverse impact on human health. The study conducted
by Kongtip et al. (2013) showed that people living near a petrochemical industrial estate in
Thailand had acute adverse health effects, shortness of breath, eye irritation, dizziness,
cough, nose congestion, sore throat, phlegm and weakness from exposure to industrial air
pollutants.
Batangascity is host to one of the biggest refineries in the Philippines - thePilipinas Shell
Corporation which has an installed capacity of 120,000 barrels per day as of January 2019.
Another heavy industrial establishment, theJG Summit Petrochemicals Group (JGSPG) -
producer of petrochemical products and solutions is housed by the city. In November 2014,
commercial operation of its naptha cracker plant started. Within its four years of operation,
complaints on negative effects on health to nearby communities were received by the
concerned local health centers and government units.These complaints were documented
by a study conducted by UERD in 2017 to 2018.Partial analysis of the research study showed
that there is a prevalence of air pollution related illnesses in the area. The adaptation
strategies the residents employ are ineffective and insufficient because of limited resources,
knowledge and sense of fatalism. This condition indicates vulnerability and low adaptation
capacity/ resiliency of the population to the industrial stressors they face. Immediate
actions must be done and extensive support must be given to the nearby communities to
alleviate their condition (Payuan and Lansigan 2017). In this consideration, the Authority
should include in its function to make appropriate measures to prevent and address
environmental pollution and negative health impacts in Lingayen and nearby communities
which must be strictly imposed if ever this transshipment port will be established.

Prepared by:
Rowena C. Payuan
Sci. Res. Spec. II, UERD

Literatures Cited:

Kongtip,Pornpimol; Singkaew, Panawadee;Yoosook, Witaya; Chantanakul, Suttinun; Sujiratat, Dusit.

2013. Health effects of people living close to a petrochemical industrial estate in Thailand.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand.
Payuan R and Lansigan R, 2017. Adaptation Strategies on the Health Risks of Industrial Stressors in
Pinamucan-Ibaba. Poster presented during the Forum on Urban Resilience to Climate Change
and Disaster Risk Reduction Management Strategies. December 4-8, 2018. DENR-
ERDB.Laoag.Ilocos Norte, Philippines.