BALANGA CITY — Young and old advocates against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in Morong town gathered here Tuesday to express their continuing opposition to the revival of the mothballed structure and to remember the “Welgang Bayan” of June 18 – 20, 1985 that drew thousands of protesters never before seen in the province.
Derek Cabe of Nuclear-Free Bataan Movement said that new and old leaders and sympathizers of NFBM during the 1980s first gathered in a program dubbed as gathering of advocates that culminated with the signing of a petition against the BNPP.
A cultural arts night, Cabe said, followed at the Plaza Mayor de Balanga with arts and performances from local artists to show their commitment to the anti-BNPP campaign. Exhibit booths where photos of the historical 1985 Welga ng Bayan were displayed.
An action booth for public engagement and petition signing were also put up by volunteers of NFBM during the cultural night.
“The Welgang Bayan 38 years ago represents the vigor with which Filipinos fought against the commissioning of the BNPP. This commemoration has re-lived the memories, reminisce the lessons taken three decades ago and to re-affirm the commitment to stop the plan to rehabilitate or revive the BNPP today,” Cabe said.
Lawyer Dante Ilaya, NFBM chair and anti-BNPP advocate since the 1980s, continued to register strong opposition to the revival of the BNPP in Napot Point in Morong.
“We are alarmed that the current administration after four decades is still considering the revival of the BNPP which was mothballed in 1986. We have two major reasons then for opposing the construction and operation of the BNPP – it is unsafe and it is costly,” he said.
These are the very reasons that pushed particularly the people of Bataan and the country to successfully oppose its impending operation during the Marcos rule, he noted. “The BNPP is neither for the public good or gain, thus, the only logical alternative is to oppose its resurrection.”
Cabe believes that the risk for nuclear disaster never goes away and no amount of technology invented by men could guarantee a 100% safety record. “Coupled with its prohibitive maintenance costs, nuclear plants are not only costly but unsustainable and deadly.”
“The BNPP is not safe then, even more at present. Therefore, we believe that there is no need to further burden the people with this white elephant. We believe that the BNPP is a false solution to reduce our power rates nor can bring progress to our province. Instead, with BNPP, we are inviting tragedy to befall us,” Cabe said.
