Philippines Debates Nuclear Energy Push Amidst Presidential Push

MANILA, Philippines — With President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s renewed push for nuclear energy during his penultimate State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, Senator Risa Hontiveros raised concerns over nuclear waste and dependence on imported materials while Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said it was time for the Philippines to explore the said. Hontiveros, in a statement, said that while she acknowledges the need for energy security, she is concerned about the Philippines’ capacity to manage nuclear waste and the potential for increased reliance on imported materials for nuclear power generation. “We need to ensure that we have a robust plan for nuclear waste disposal and that we are not overly dependent on other countries for our energy needs,” she said. Zubiri, on the other hand, believes that it is time for the Philippines to seriously consider nuclear energy as a viable option to meet the country’s growing energy demands. He cited the country’s abundant geothermal and renewable energy resources but stressed that these may not be enough to power the nation’s progress. “Nuclear energy is a clean and reliable source of power that can help us achieve energy independence and reduce our carbon footprint,” Zubiri said. The Philippines has a history with nuclear energy, with the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant being constructed in the 1980s but never commissioned due to safety concerns and political changes. The push for nuclear energy comes at a time when the Philippines is facing challenges in its energy sector, including rising electricity prices and the need to diversify its energy sources. However, concerns about safety, waste management, and the country’s capacity to handle such a complex technology remain significant hurdles that need to be addressed before any concrete steps can be taken.