MORONG, Bataan — The Nuclear-Free Bataan Movement (NFBM) has renewed its opposition to the proposed rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), arguing that potential risks to public safety and the environment outweigh the promised benefits of nuclear energy.
In a press statement issued Oct. 22, the group challenged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s emphasis on affordable electricity, saying cheaper energy should not come at the expense of communities’ safety and future.
The NFBM cited the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan as a warning that nuclear accidents remain a risk even in technologically advanced countries. The group argued that the potential dangers of nuclear energy cannot be justified by its promised benefits.
The movement also questioned the BNPP’s original construction, claiming the facility was mothballed because of substandard conditions and defects linked to corruption during the administration of Marcos Jr.’s father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The statement did not provide additional evidence to substantiate these allegations.
Julito Velasco, NFBM vice chairperson and a resident of Morong, described the proposed rehabilitation as an attempt to restore the Marcos family’s historical legacy. He argued that the project could place the people of Bataan at risk, adding that residents should not be treated as a “sacrificed zone.”
The group also challenged the economic rationale for pursuing nuclear power, arguing that nuclear plants are expensive to build and take longer to complete than renewable energy projects. It further raised concerns about nuclear waste management and the eventual decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
Instead, the NFBM urged the government to invest in renewable energy sources suited to the Philippines’ archipelagic geography. According to the group, a well-planned alternative energy program could meet the country’s target of generating 2,400 megawatts by 2035.
As part of its campaign, the movement held a protest at the BNPP gate in Morong to coincide with the arrival of participants in a Supply Chain Forum previously organized by the Department of Energy in Manila. Demonstrators carried placards reading “No to Rehabilitation of BNPP!” and “Nuclear is Unsafe, Not Clean, and Expensive!”
The NFBM called on Marcos and his administration to prioritize public safety, community welfare and environmental protection in making decisions about the country’s energy future.
The claims and assessments cited in the report reflect the NFBM’s position as presented in its press statement. The statement did not include responses from the government or proponents of the BNPP rehabilitation.
