School of Geography - Theses

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    The role of public participation in the Philippine environmental impact assessment (EIA) process : an analysis of the Batangas coal-fired thermal power project
    Mendoza, Emmanuelita D. ( 1998)
    The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in the Philippines has been evolving gradually from a technical exercise in decision-making based on objective data to a procedure which emphasises public views. Its objective now is to address fully the social dimension of project development review procedures and the need for effective public participation. This thesis utilises ? case study of a coal-fired power plant located in the coastal town of Calaca, province of Batangas t? document and highlight the values and constraints of public participation in the Philippines EIA process. The thesis argues that public participation played a crucial role in the evaluation and decision-making process for the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) approval of the Batangas Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant. Following considerable delays experienced by the developer, the National Power Corporation (NPC), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) put into place the necessary procedural guidelines. The lessons to be learned from the case study are: how to resolve issues through amicable agreements, how to create acceptance of the project with minimum levels of impacts, share decision-making and responsibilities through multisectoral monitoring, and several others. This thesis concludes that such participation paved the way for improvements and innovative changes in the procedural requirements of the EIA process. Most importantly, acceptance by the local community must be secured before the approval of the project. This will tend to make the development of the project environmentally sound and socially acceptable.