184 lawmakers endorse nuclear power plant

NGOs insist reviving the mothballed BNPP endangers the lives of those who live in Central Luzon
 
A COALITION of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) on Wednesday divulged the names of 184 legislators endorsing a House Bill that seeks to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

The Network Opposed to Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (NO to BNPP) revealed the names of these legislators who signed Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco’s House Bill no. 4631 “mandating the immediate commissioning and commercial operation” of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

At the same time, NO to BNPP urged the lawmaker to withdraw their support to BNPP bill saying that the nuclear power plant is dangerous to lives of the people living in the whole Central Luzon.

Etta Rosales, former party-list representative and now Freedom from Debt Coalition vice president, said that of the 184 lawmakers who have already endorsed the Cojuangco bill, 24 are from the National Capital Region, 75 from Luzon, 40 from Visayas, 38 from Mindanao and seven party-list representatives.

NO to BNPP also called on the lawmakers to seriously study the economic, financial and technical implications of reviving the power plant and its potential danger to the lives of the Filipino people today and for generations to come.

Rosales said her organization sent a letter to the members of the House Appropriations Committee who signed the BNPP bill, and attached initial studies and position papers by scientists and experts explaining the danger of the nuclear power plant. These studies were submitted to the Committee for distribution to the lawmakers.

Furthermore, the coalition of NGOs asked the House leadership, particularly Speaker Prospero Nograles and the Committee on Appropriations, to request for a copy of the 1990 report on the $9.5-million Technical Audit of BNPP commissioned by the Aquino government through the Presidential Committee on the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant (PC-PNPP).

The said technical audit was performed by 50 independent nuclear experts who were organized by the Nuclear Energy Services (NES).

Nicanor Perlas, former technical consultant on the PC-PNPP, said that the 28-volume audit report of the team of 50 nuclear experts showed very clearly that the BNPP can never be operated safely.

Perlas recalled that in September 1990, these experts submitted its audit report to the PC-PNPP and the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on BNPP.

Perlas said the team of nuclear experts found out that there are more than 40,000 field change notices (defects), four times higher than normal, indicating the gross failure of quality control protocols.

He also said that the 50-man panel of nuclear experts estimated a repair bill of $1.20 billion to $1.54 billion (year 1990 dollars). “Adding for a modest amount of inflation for 18 years, the repair bill, in today’s dollars, could easily exceed $3 billion,” perlas added.

Perlas added that repairing the BNPP would take a minimum of six-and-a-half-year and longer should a more comprehensive audit be done.

He stressed that there is no guarantee that the BNPP can be safely operated since the nuclear experts found that the Quality Assurance Program for BNPP was “so problematic” that plant quality and safety may never be established.

“Because of the pervasive defects of the BNPP, the nuclear audit recommended the mothballing of BNPP,” Perlas stressed.

Beau Baconguis, campaigns manager of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, also echoed the call for the solons to withdraw their endorsement of the bill.

Fr. Ben Moraleda of the Faith-based Congress against Immoral Debts (FCAID), for his part, said that the upcoming season of Lent is a good opportunity for the legislators to pause for a while and review the many documents given to them by the NO to BNPP.

Among the legislators identified by Rosales, citing data gathered from the House of Representatives Legislative Information System, endoring the revival of BNPP are House Speaker Prospero Nograles (First District, Davao City), Jose de Venecia Jr. (Fouth District, Pangasinan), Herminia Roman (First District, Bataan), Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria Arroyo (First District, Camarines Sur), Juan Miguel Macapagal-Arroyo (Second District, Pampanga), Luis Villafuerte (Second District Camarines Sur), Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro (First District, Tarlac), Cynthia Villar (Lone District, Las Piñas City), Ronaldo Zamora (Lone District, San Juan) and Eduardo Zialcita (First District, Parañaque)

The following are the solons identified by Rosales, citing the data gathered from the House of Representatives Legislative Information System, endoring the revival of BNPP:

From the National Capital Region, the 24 lawmakers who have endorsed the bill are: Bienvenido Abante Jr. (Sixth District, Manila), Maria Zenaida Angping (Third District, Manila), Amado Bagatsing (Fifth District, Manila), Rozzano Rufino Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David (Fourth District, Manila), Mary Mitz Cajayon (Second District, Caloocan), Vincent Crisologo (First District, Quezon City), Nanette Castello-Daza (Fourth District, Quezon City), Del De Guzman (Second District, Marikina City), Matias Defensor Jr. (Third District, Quezon City).

Rexlon Gatchalian (Second District, Valenzuela), Angelito Gatlabayan (Second District, Antipolo City), Neptali Gonzales 2nd (Lone District, Mandaluyong), Magtanggol Gunigundo (Second District, Valenzuela), Jaime Lopez (Second District, Manila), Oscar Malapitan (First District, Caloocan), Roberto Puno (First District, Antipolo City), Roman Romulo (Lone District, Pasig City), Jose Antonio Roxas (Lone District, Pasay City), Mary Ann Susano (Second District, Quezon City).

Marcelino Teodoro (First District, Marikina City), Cynthia Villar (Lone District, Las Piñas City), Ronaldo Zamora (Lone District, San Juan) and Eduardo Zialcita (First District, Parañaque).

From Luzon, the 75 legislators who endorsed the bill are: Joseph Emilio Abaya (First District, Cavite), Ablan Roque Jr. (First District, Ilocos Norte), Victor Agbayani (Second District, Pangasinan), Giorgidi Aggabao (Fourth District, Isabela), Manuel Agyao (Lone District, Kalinga), Rodolfo Albano 3rd (First District, Isabela), Felix Alfelor Jr. (Fouth District, Camarines Sur), Juan Edgardo Angara (Lone District, Aurora), Rodolfo Antonino (Fourth District, Nueva Ecija), Maria Evita Arago (Third District, Laguna).

Ma. Rachel Arenas (Third District, Pangasinan), Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria Arroyo (First District, Camarines Sur), Elpidio Barzaga (Second District, Cavite), Al Francis Bichara Jr. (Second District, Albay), Narciso Bravo Jr (First District, Masbate), Elias Bulut (Lone District, Apayao), Carmen Cari (Fifth District, Leyte), Arthur Celeste (First District Pangasinan), Solomon Chungalao (Lone District, Ifugao), Eufrocino Codilla Sr. (Fourth District, Leyte).

Mark Cojuangco (Fifth District, Pangasinan), Junie Cua (Lone District, Quirino), Samuel Dangwa (Lone District, Benguet), Jose de Venecia Jr. (Fouth District, Pangasinan), Carlo Oliver Diasnes (Lone District, Batanes), Antonio Diaz (Second District, Zambales), Mauricio Domogan (Lone District, Baguio), Thomas Dumpit Jr. (Second District, La Union), Faustino Dy 3rd (Third District, Isabela), Wilfrido Mark Enverga (First District, Quezon).

Eileen Ermita-Buhain (First District, Batangas), Salvador Escudero 3rd (First District Sorsogon), Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez (1st District, Laguna), Arnulfo Fuentebella (Third District, Camarines Sur), Aurelio Gonzales Jr. (Third District, Pampanga), Eduardo Nonato Joson (First District, Nueva Ecija), Antonio Kho (Second District, Masbate), Jeci Lapus (Third District, Tarlac), Juan Miguel Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga), Ma. Milagros Magsaysay (1st District, Zambales).

Manuel Mamba (3rd District, Cagayan), Hermilando Mandanas (Second District, Batangas), Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Second District, Ilocos Norte), Mark Llandro Mendoza (Fourth District, batangas), Reylina “Neneng” Nicolas (Fourth District, Bulacan), Victor Francisco Ortega (First District, La Union), Carlos Padilla (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya), Pedro Pancho (Second District, Bulacan), Salvacion Ponce-Enrile (First District, Cagayan), Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro (First District, Tarlac).

Jesus Crispin Remulla (Third District, Cavite), Carmencita Reyes (Lone District, Marinduque), Victoria Reyes (Third District, Batangas), Arturo Robes (Lone District, San Jose del Monte), Adelina Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga (Second District, Rizal), Herminia Roman (First District, Bataan), Edgar San Luis (Fourth District, Laguna), Joseph Santiago (Lone District, Catanduanes), Rizalina Seachon-Lanete (Third District, Masbate), Cecilia Seares-Luna (Lone District, Abra).

Lorna Silverio (Third District Bulacan), Eric Singson (Second District, Ilocos Sur), Ronald Singson (First District Ilocos Sur), Jose Solis (Second District, Sorsogon), Danilo Suarez (Third District, Quezon), Alfonso Umali Jr. (Second District, Oriental Mindoro), Czarina Umali (Third District, Nueva Ecija), Edwin Uy (Second District, Isabela), Rodolfo Valencia (First District, Oriental Mindoro), Florencio Vargas (Second District, Cagayan).

Luis Villafuerte (Second District Camarines Sur), Amelita Villarosa (Lone District, Occidental Mindoro), Liwayway Vinzons-Chato (Lone District, Camarines Norte), Joseph Violago (Second District, Nueva Ecijja), and Jose Yap (Second District, Tarlac).

From Visayas, the 40 pro-BNPP legislators are: Genaro Alvarez Jr. (Sixth District, Negros Occidental), Trinidad Apostol (Second District, Leyte), Ignacio Arroyo (Fifth District, Negros Occidental) , Ferjenel Biron (Fifth District, Iloilo), Roberto Cajes (Second District, Bohol), Edgardo Chatto (First District, Bohol), Glenn Chong (Lone District, Biliran), Teodulo Coquilla (Lone District, Eastern Samar), Paul Daza (First District, Northern Samar), Arthur Defensor (Third District, Iloilo).

Raul Del Mar (First District, Cebu City), Antonio del Rosario (First District, Capiz), Ramon Durano 6th (Fifth District, Cebu), Glenda Ecleo (Lone District, Dinagat Islands), Jeffrey Ferrer (Fourth District, Negros Occidental), Orlando Fua (Lone District, Siquijor), Pablo Garcia (Second District, Cebu), Janette Garin (First District Iloilo), Raul Gonzalez Jr. (Lone District, Iloilo City), Eduardo Gullas (First District, Cebu).

Adam Relson Jala (Third District, Bohol), Exequiel Javier (Lone District, Antique), Jose Carlos Lacson (Third District, Negros Occidental), Julio Ledesma 4th (First District, Negros Occidental), Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Lone District, Romblon), Alfredo Maranon 3rd ( 2nd District, Negros Occidental), Roger G. Mercado (Lone District, Southern Leyte), Florencio Miraflores (Lone District, Aklan), Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava (Lone District, Guimaras), Emil Ong (Second District, Northern Samar).

Monico Puentevella (Lone District, Bacolod City), Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (First District, Leyte), Benhur Salimbangon (Fourth District, Cebu), Andres Salvacion Jr. (Third District, Leyte), Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz (Sixth District, Cebu), Judy Syjuco (Second District, Iloilo), Sharee Ann Tan (Second District, Western Samar), Pryde Henry Teves (Third District, Negros Oriental), Niel Tupas Jr. (Fifth District, Iloilo), and Reynaldo Uy (First District, Western Samar).

From Mindanao, there are 38 lawmakers supportive of the bill. They are: Thelma Almario (Second District, Davao), Edelmiro Amante (Second District, Agusan del Norte), Jose Aquino 2nd (First District, Agusan Del Norte), Munir Arbison (Second District, Sulu), Pangalian Balindong (Second District, Lanao del Sur), Franklin Bautista (Second District, Davao del Sur), Vicente Belmonte Jr. (First District, Lanao del Norte), Marc Douglas Cagas 4th (First District, Davao del Sur), Antonio Cerilles (Second District, Zamboanga del Sur), Erwin Chiongbian (Lone District, Sarangani).

Simeon Datumanong (Lone District, Maguindanao), Nelson Dayanghirang (First District, Davao Oriental), Didagen Dilangalen (Lone District, Shariff Kabunsuan with Cotabato City), Abdullah Dimaporo (Second District, Lanao del Norte), Yevgeny Vicente Emano (Second District, Misamis Oriental), Erico Basilio Fabian (Second District, Zamboanga City), Florencio Garay (Second District, Surigao del Sur), Vincent Garcia (Second District, Davao City), Arnulfo Go (Second District, Sultan Kudarat), Dulce Ann Hofer (Second District, Zamboanga Sibugay).

Nur Jaafar (Lone District, Tawi-Tawi), Cesar Jalosjos (Third District, Zamboanga del Norte), Cecilia Jalosjos-Carreon (First District, Zamboanga del Norte), Antonio Lagdameo Jr. (Second District, Davao del Norte), Datu Pax Mangudadatu (First District, Sultan Kudarat), Francisco Matugas (First District, Surigao del Norte), Prospero Nograles (First District, Davao City), Arrel Olano (First District, Davao del Norte), Candido Pancrudo Jr. (First District Bukidnon), Philip Pichay (First District, Surigao del Sur).

Arthur Pingoy Jr. (Second District, South Cotabato), Rodolfo Rodrigo Plaza (Lone District, Agusan del Sur), Herminia Ramiro, (Second District, Misamis Occidental), Guillermo Romarate Jr. (Second District, Surigao del Norte), Pedro Romualdo (Lone District, Camiguin), Emmylou Talino-Mendoza (First District, North Cotabato), Isidro Ungab (Third District, Davao City), and Victor Yu (First District, Zamboanga del Sur).

Also supporting the bill are seven party list representatives. They are: Nicanor Briones (AGAP), Robert Raymund Estrella (Abono), Carol Jayne Lopez, (Yacap), Florencio “Bem” Noel, (Anwaray), Ernesto Pablo (Apec),Irwin Tieng (Buhay) and Edgar Valdez (Apec).. Ira Karen Apanay Senior Reporter, Manila Times