The case for nuclear power

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The announcement that the governor of Negros Occidental is backing the call of former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco to establish nuclear power plants in the country immediately stirred the proverbial hornets' nest in the province.

Cojuangco, who had been advocating for the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Plant before his “graduation” from Congress, had made the call during a press conference at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Monday. In presenting his proposal, the former solon said this will ensure cheaper cost of electric power and will also spare the country from the inconvenience and losses that power shortages and outages will cause.

Governor Alfredo Marañon himself said that he had always favored the establishment of nuclear power plants. The recent problems brought by frequent brownouts and the constant hikes in the cost of electricity are the probable factors that have led to his support for the plan.

Immediately, various groups in the province sprung up in protest against the proposal. Their objections were based mostly on the premise that such power would be very dangerous for a country like the Philippines which is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and is prone to earthquakes. They also claim that there is no assurance that our country has the capacity to produce or control nuclear power, citing the tragedies in Chernobyl and, lately, the incident in Fukushima, Japan, where an earthquake followed by a tsunami had caused destruction to its nuclear plant, rendering the area dangerous for human habitation until now.

The multi-billion nuclear power plant in Bataan set up during the Marcos administration remains mothballed until now due to the fears and protests of the public against it.

Apparently, it will still be a long time before the acceptance of nuclear power, despite our desperate need for electricity, will take place in this country. Our leaders, therefore, should look hard, and faster for other sources, if we are to be competitive with others who have resolved such problems already.*