NFBM’s Dante Ilaya and David Honra lead symbolic dismantling of BNPP. Photo by Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY — The Nuclear-Free Bataan Movement (NFBM) on Friday called on the next President of the Philippines to reject the revival of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in Morong town and revoke Executive Order No. 164.
Atty. Dante Ilaya, NFBM chairman, said he was surprised that the term of President Duterte is about to expire and still the chief executive released the EO that adopts a nuclear energy program for the national government.
“Ito ang nagtatakda ng paggamit ng nuclear energy para sa supply ng kuryente sa ating bansa at ang immediate impact nito, ang target nito, ang rehabilitation at operation ng BNPP,” the lawyer said.
“Dati ay nasa $600 million lang ang presyo nito at nag-balloon hanggang umabot sa $2.3 billion na inako ng sambayanang Pilipino. Ang 20% debt servicing mula sa national budget taon-taon na ibinabayad sa pagkakautang na nakuha ng Pilipinas dahil sa pagkakatayo ng BNPP ay malaking bagay,” he said.
“Ang 20% sanang ito ay ginagamit na sa iba pang development program o assistance ng pamahalaan para sa mahihirap,” Ilaya noted.
He said that studies showed that from the design and construction itself of the BNPP, it was riddled with thousands of defects that he said will cause potential hazard to the life and safety of the people.
“Ang tanong ko ay hindi na ito sa pera dahil mahahanap yan pero ang halaga ng buhay dahil ang unang tanong diyan ay paano ima-manage ang radioactive wastes, ano ang disposal na gagawin sa radioactive wastes, paano idi-dispose? Ii-stock muna ba, iipunin o ii-store at later on ultimately idi-dispose?” Ilaya asked.
“Ang masaklap kapag natapos na ang lifespan ng nuclear plant ay kakailanganin i-decommission ang buong planta, paano gagawin, ililibing ba? Ano ang assurance na ang decommission ng power plant na ito na magiging highly radioactive for thousands of years ay hindi magdudulot ng panganib sa mga mamamayan at susunod na mga henerasyon,” he added.
He said that there are many possible sources of renewable energy in the country that the government should focus on and develop.
“Nananawagan kami na tuluyan nang i-abandona, iwanan, isara ang BNPP at gamitin na lang sa mas lalong higit na pakinabang para sa mamamayan na hindi magdudulot ng panganib sa mamamayan,” Ilaya said.
Other energy sources
“May solar energy na makukuha at ang wind energy ang daming lugar dito na mapagkukunan ng enerhiya. Sa tubig ay kakayanin din naman na kumuha tayo sa lalawigan ng Bataan basta nasa tama lamang na pagpaplano, pag-aaral at paglalaan ng sapat na pondo para makalikha ng kuryente mula sa mga renewable and clean energy sources,” he said.
“By July 1, 2022, may bagong presidente na. Ang kauna-unahang pagla-lobby nating gagawin sa bagong presidente ay ang i-revoke ang EO No. 164 at magkaroon ng definitive position para sa pag-abandona sa BNPP,” Ilaya concluded.
NFBM secretary-general David Honra said a Filipino engineer died about 10 years ago when he allegedly tried to place uranium in the nuclear power plant. “Isa rin ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit hindi na dapat paandarin ang BNPP dahil delikado at maraming problema.”
Teacher James Pagaduan, chairman of Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers, read a covenant on the people’s demand to reject BNPP as energy source.
“The reasons for the rejection of the BNPP in the past still stand today. The BNPP is anything but public service. The only logical alternative is to oppose its resurrection for good,” Pagaduan said.
Edlyn Rosales, president of the Capunitan Fisherfolk Association in Orion town, said she was saddened that many youths are playing deaf to the revival of BNPP.
“Ang mga ganitong uri ng proyekto na sinasasabing wala pang kahit anong siyensya ang nakakapagpatunay o nakakagawa ng paraan kung paano ba talagang maitatapon ng tama ang radioactive wastes ng nuclear plant ay napakalaking problema talaga nito,” she said.
“Dahil malamang sa malamang hindi natin alam ay patago nila itong itatapon sa dagat o ibabaon sa lupa na mga numero unong pinagkukuhanan ng pangangailangan lalo na ang pagkain sa araw-araw,” Rosales added.
She said that fishermen and farmers in the province will not permit the operation of the BNPP because it will poison the seas and the farms.
“Naniniwala ako na ang pagkalinga sa kalikasan ang siyang tunay na magdudulot ng pagbabago sa ating bansa dahil ang mundo ang ating tirahan,” Rosales said.
Jochell Magracia, president of Young Bataenos for Environmental Advocacy Network, called on the youth to unite and reject the rehabilitation of BNPP.
Derek Cabe of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD- Bataan) said the inclusion of nuclear energy in our country’s energy program defeats the purpose of going into renewable, sustainable energy.
“Parang papunta tayo sa path ng nuclear program at malaking usapin ang utilization ng BNPP na matatandaan sa kasaysayan na 1970’s itinayo ito at kahit kailan ay hindi ito na-operate as a nuclear energy source ng bansa dahil sa tinutulan ng mamamayan,” Cabe said.
Also present were farmer leader Mario Tayo of Almaba, Green Peace official Yeb Sano, religious worker Josefina Dizon and some representatives from the Coal-Free Bataan Movement and other organizations.
