BATAAN, Philippines — With the rising energy demand putting greater pressure on the country’s electricity system, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has recently called for the reconsideration of nuclear energy as part of the national grid during his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
However, for Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Congressman Mark O. Cojuangco, a leading nuclear energy advocate and chairman of the Special Committee on Nuclear Energy, revisiting nuclear energy goes beyond reopening the discussions; it must be followed by concrete steps by the government toward actual implementation.
With the renewed push for nuclear energy, Cojuangco expressed his concern over gradual progress from the administration. Despite ongoing deliberation of the House Bill No. 08567, or the Nuclear Energy Sector Integration Act, and the recently signed Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM) Bill, he urges the government to accelerate its efforts toward the integration of nuclear energy and the revival of the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP) in Bataan.
“Nuclear power cannot remain an option we revisit. We need to see real progress from the government and a clear direction for where our energy security is headed right now,” Cojuangco said. “The administration’s term will eventually end, but the energy demand will not. If our country does not immediately act on this, we keep on delaying addressing our energy needs.”
Alpas Pinas, a non-stock, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting nuclear energy as a clean and sustainable source of power, highlighted the importance of integrating nuclear energy into the national grid. Gayle Certeza, PhD, lead convenor of Alpas Pinas, pointed out the recurring challenges that strengthen the need to diversify the energy mix by securing another reliable supply of power.
“Our country has been dealing with power shortages and tight energy supply for years, and we are recorded as having the most expensive electricity rates in Southeast Asia,” said Gayle Certeza, PhD, of Alpas Pinas. “We cannot solve today’s problems with the same solutions. President Marcos Jr. has already recognized the potential of nuclear energy; it now needs to move and act accordingly with the right actions to ensure that the energy capacity we need in the future is already being worked on today. The recommissioning of the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant in Bataan is crucial and integral to our country’s energy plans.”
As the Philippines continues to face growing electricity demand, the challenge is how nuclear ambitions can be translated into action and eventually make nuclear energy an official part of the national grid.