“Ang mga pari at mananampalataya ng Diyosesis ng Balanga ay tumatanggi at tumututol sa rehabilitasyon ng BNPP at ang anomang usapin tungkol dito ay tigilan na, tapusin na at tama na,” Bishop Ruperto Santos said.
Streamers in all churches in 11 towns and one city and some village chapels show the sentiment of the diocese against reviving the plant built by former strongman Pres. Ferdinand Marcos but ordered closed by then Pres. Cory Aquino.
The bishop said he feared Mount Natib along the Bataan mountain range as a sleeping volcano that may erupt during the operation of BNPP.
“Kung ipagpapatuloy o bubuhayin ang nuclear plant, hindi ba’t ito ay unti-unting paggising insa natutulog na bulkan? At kapag nagising ang bulkan naririyan ang tiyak na pagsabog. Nasaksihan at naranasan natin ang pagsabog ng Mount Pinatubo. Marami ang napinsala, marami ang nasira at nagkaroon ng malawak na kapahamakan at kahirapan na ngayon ay atin pa rin nararamdaman,” the Bataan prelate said.
Santos said that BNPP rehabilitation and the eruption of the volcano and a high intensity earthquake will bring more disaster and deaths not only in one town and province but in a wide area. He fears of a radiation leak.
“Hindi tama, hindi rin mabuti at lalung-lalo na hindi moral ang isakripisyo ang buhay at kalikasan dahil lamang sa negosyo, at pag-asenso, Hindi mapapalitan ng pera ang buhay na mawawala,” he said.
The bishop urged government to concentrate instead in tapping renewable energy. He cited lights along the national highway in Lubao, Pampanga powered by solar energy and so with some churches in Balanga City and Pilar town.
He mentioned the windmills in Ilocos Norte and some areas that help supply energy.
“Bakit hindi ito ang ating pag-ukulan ng pansin, pera at pagaaral bilang panibagong panggagalingan ng enerhiya? Mayaman tayo sa tubig, sadyang mainit at mahaba ang ating tag-araw, at malalakas ang ating hangin. Ito ang atin nararapat na pagyamanin at subukan,” Santos said.
He said that Morong in the absence of BNPP is in the road to prosperity because of its beautiful sandy beaches numbering more than 20 beach resorts and mountains and fertile agricultural lands.
Marine turtles lay their eggs along the shore of Morong where thousands of hatchlings are freed into the West Philippines Sea.
“Atin ba itong isasakripisyo sa hindi kasiguraduhang pagpapaandar ng nuclear power plant? Atin bang itataya ang ating buhay at kabuhayan sa kasangkapan ng kamatayan?,” Santos asked.
“Mga minamahal naming mga kapatid kay Kristo, masarap pong matulog kapag tahimik sa ating kapaligiran at mapayapa ang ating kalikasan. Papaano tayo makakatulog ng mahimbing kung batid natin sa rehabilitasyon ng Bataan Nuclear Power Plant tayo ay nasa matinding panganib at may naka-ambang kamatayan?,” the bishop concluded his pastoral letter.
Santos is permanent council member of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and chair of the CBCP-Episcopal Committee on the Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.
