Caritas Philippines has expressed support for Batangas Archbishop Emeritus Ramon Arguelles and residents of Lobo who have raised concerns over a proposed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal and refilling plant.
San Carlos Bishop and Caritas Philippines President Gerardo Alminaza said ‘this is not simply about one project,’ stressing that the issue touches on the core of Christian vocation – ‘the development we choose, the risks communities are asked to carry, and the responsibility we bear to protect life, livelihood, and creation.’
Located in Barangay Talahib Pandayan in Batangas City, the proposed facility is said to threaten the safety, resources and livelihoods of communities along the boundary of Lobo and Batangas City.
‘Where there are legitimate concerns about possible harm, precaution is not an obstacle to development. It is a profound moral responsibility,’ Alminaza said in a statement issued by the Caritas Philippines-Integral Ecology Ministry.
He stressed that ‘our faith teaches us that human dignity, community life, and the integrity of creation cannot be separated.’
‘We cannot claim to protect people while allowing the destruction of the environment that sustains them,’ he said.
Threat
The Sangguniang Bayan of Lobo, in a resolution, expressed strong opposition to the project, citing alleged ‘several violations’ affecting residents of Barangay Banalo.
It alleged that there was no public consultation or even an invitation to an official meeting, ‘despite the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) having identified the barangay … as an adjacent community that would be directly affected by the project.’
The resolution also stated that an assessment by Pryce Gases Inc. found that the project is only 42.3 meters from Banalo Elementary School, significantly short of the recommended minimum distance of 100 meters mandated under Section 40 of Department of Energy Circular No. DC2020-01-0001.
Likewise, the coastal waters of Lobo are part of the Verde Island Passage, while Barangay Banalo is home to a designated coral reef sanctuary, both of which could be significantly affected by potential waste discharges.
There is also a high risk of oil spill contamination from vessels that would dock at the facility to load LPG, the Sangguniang Bayan of Lobo said, as quoted in a press release issued by the provincial government of Batangas.
For Alminaza, ‘we cannot speak of progress when families are left anxious about their safety, their livelihoods, and the future of their children,’ adding that ‘the concerns of the people of Lobo must be heard with seriousness and respect.’
He said this is especially important because the Verde Island Passage must be protected with the highest degree of care.
‘It is not simply a body of water. It is a living ecosystem, a source of food and livelihood, and part of the shared natural heritage of communities across Batangas and neighboring provinces,’ he said.
‘To place it at unnecessary risk is to place both marine life and coastal communities at risk,’ he said.
A rich fishing ground with a thriving marine ecosystem spanning 1.14 million hectares, the corridor is home to numerous species of fish, sea turtles, mangroves, seagrass, opisthobranchs and corals, some of which have been described as ‘extremely rare.’
The bishop said ‘any project that may affect communities, coastal resources, and ecosystems must undergo transparent and independent assessment, rigorous scientific scrutiny, meaningful public consultation, and strict compliance with environmental and safety standards.’
Beyond Lobo
Alminaza said that beyond the single proposal, Batangas and nearby provinces ‘have already carried the weight of numerous projects linked to fossil fuels and other polluting energy sources.’
‘Communities in these areas have repeatedly faced the environmental, health, and livelihood risks that come with such development. These cumulative pressures cannot be ignored,’ he said, stressing the Church’s preferential option for the poor and vulnerable.
For Alminaza, ‘development cannot be called just when vulnerable communities are made to bear a disproportionate share of its costs.’
‘This is why we stand with Archbishop Arguelles and the people of Lobo. Because the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor converge, the Church cannot remain silent when communities are asking to be heard and when the integrity of creation is at stake,’ he said.
He said accompanying them does not mean opposing development but insisting that development must be safe, just, transparent and truly for the common good.
‘We must reject any model of progress that places economic interests above human dignity or treats ecological damage as an acceptable price to pay,’ the bishop said. ‘Those who raise legitimate concerns for their communities and for the environment must be respected.’
For Alminaza, their voices are not obstacles to development but are essential to honest, responsible and democratic decision-making.
‘To defend Lobo is to defend life. To protect the Verde Island Passage is to protect our common home. To stand with communities at risk is to live our faith with courage. May we continue to choose life, justice, and creation,’ he added