Bataan execs buck BNPP revival

By Ric Sapnu (The Philippine Star), November 21, 2016

BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Philippines – Officials of Bataan and the Catholic diocese of Balanga are opposed to reviving and operating the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in Morong town.

Bataan Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia, Gov. Albert Garcia and Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos, along with the Nuclear Free Bataan Movement (NFBM), consider the BNPP dangerous.

The congressman said he and the governor went to Davao last week and told President Duterte about their fears.

“We are greatly concerned with regards to safety,” he said. “It will have an effect on tourism and the development of resorts, as well as business.”

“A big part of Asia is in the Pacific Ring of Fire so we are susceptible to earthquakes,” Garcia said. “Bataan is in between the National Capital Region and heavily populated Central Luzon and Calabarzon. Millions of people would be affected if the plant suffers a problem.”

Santos said government officials should take into consideration the life and future of the people and environment and not profit or material convenience.

“We are firm in our decision to oppose any move to rehabilitate the BNPP,” he said. “We have tarpaulins in all churches in opposition to the BNPP and we will disseminate the message to all diocesan schools.”

The NFBM considers nuclear power as the deadliest energy source invented by man.

The provincial and congressional officials, priests and NFBM urged government to instead study the use of renewable energy such as wind, solar, geothermal and hydro, which they said are still not sufficiently tapped.