Marcos renews pitch for nuclear energy
SINGAPORE—President Marcos on Saturday pitched for nuclear energy anew, saying Filipinos are becoming more concerned about access to cheaper electricity than the source of energy.
The President talked about the need for cheaper power sources amid the Energy Regulatory Commission’s announcement on Saturday that it had approved Meralco’s new average distribution rate of P1.48 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is 9.6 percent higher than the current rate of P1.35 per kWh.
“[…] People are worried about safety and the answer that comes back is that we don’t care where our power comes from, but [make it more cheap],” the President said during his visit to the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI).
He made the remarks as the Philippines sought to learn from Singapore’s experience in nuclear research, safety and regulation, even as the city-state has yet to decide whether to adopt nuclear power.
Last August, the Department of Energy (DOE) said it identified seven potential sites for nuclear power plants in five provinces and is studying ways to finance them.
Two potential sites are in Bataan and another two in Palawan, while Masbate, Pangasinan and Camarines Norte have one site each.
Shelved nuclear plant
Mr. Marcos also referred to the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, built during his father’s administration.
The Bataan facility was completed in 1984 at a cost of $2.3 billion, but was ordered shelved by then President Corazon Aquino in 1986 amid safety concerns and allegations of irregularities surrounding its construction and financing.
The Philippines continued paying for the project long after it was shelved, settling its outstanding obligations only in 2007.
In 2021, the Supreme Court ordered P1 billion in temperate damages and P1 million in exemplary damages, plus interest, against businessman Herminio Disini, a close associate of Marcos Sr., over his role in securing the nuclear plant contract for US firm Westinghouse Electric Corp.
Disini died in 2014, before the high court issued its ruling.
Proposals to rehabilitate the plant have continued to face opposition from Bataan officials, who have raised concerns about its age, safety and the cost of restarting operations.
Last June, the municipal council of Morong, where the plant is located, approved a measure declaring the town a nonnuclear area.
Energy security
The Marcos administration has nevertheless continued exploring nuclear power as part of efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix and reduce its dependence on imported fuels.
In October 2024, the Philippines and South Korea signed an agreement to conduct a feasibility study on rehabilitating the Bataan plant.
In his fifth State of the Nation Address last July, Mr. Marcos renewed his push for nuclear energy, saying the technology could help strengthen the country’s energy security and reduce electricity costs.
“Pushing the envelope further, perhaps it is time for us to revisit nuclear energy production,” the President said. “We are confident in its capacity to reinforce our energy security and bring down the cost of electricity in our country.”
He also sought to address long-standing concerns about the safety of nuclear power, pledging to prioritize safety and explain its benefits to the public.
“We will ensure that it is safe. We will also make sure to properly explain to the public the benefits of nuclear energy,” he said.
His visit to the SNRSI was part of his five-day working visit to Singapore from Oct. 7 to 11, which also included engagements with business leaders and Singaporean officials.
