Pursuit of nuclear energy to reduce PH oil dependency

MANILA -- The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's policy of pursuing safe and reliable nuclear energy would promote the country's national and economic security and also make it more energy-independent.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda made the statement as he expressed strong support for Duterte’s policy commitment towards nuclear energy as embodied in Executive Order No. 164, which was made public on Thursday.

“Let me make it very clear: I support the pursuit of safe and reliable nuclear energy. It is the most dependable energy source. The country’s national and economic security would be stronger with nuclear energy. We would be more energy-independent with nuclear energy. We must approach nuclear energy with eyes and minds wide open, not with irrational, sentimental fear,” he said.

He said energy sovereignty and the country's shift towards less pollutive energy sources require nuclear energy, since solar, wind, and other less stable energy sources require large tracts of land "that we do not have.”

“Nuclear is also the most dependable source of energy, and it’s not even close. Nuclear has the highest capacity factor, or the amount of times a power plant is producing at maximum capacity. The lowest is solar, which of course is dependent on sunny days,” he said.

He said the problem with being overly dependent on fossil fuels, which accounts for as much as 75 percent of electricity in the country, is that when problems arise in oilproducing states like Russia or those in the Middle East, Filipino consumers suffer consequences "no matter how remote we are from the causes of such problems.”

“It’s a matter of national security as well. If, by any chance, our sea routes through the South China Sea were somehow hampered, we would suffer terribly from oil shortages," he said.

He expressed hope that the policy commitment from Duterte will eventually pave the way for serious policy and financial investment in nuclear research.

Salceda added that Duterte’s instructions to review the viability of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant “is also good fiscal housekeeping.”

Duterte’s EO directs an interagency panel to look into reopening the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

“We spend around PHP40 million every year to maintain Bataan Nuclear. That means we’re spending that much on a white elephant. I think part of the mandate of the EO, which is to review the BNPP, has to include whether we should already totally decommission the asset as scrap metal, if it’s really dangerous and unsafe,” Salceda said.

Salceda said Congress may consider a “franchise approach” to operating the BNPP.

“I think we should bid it out as a Public-Private Partnership and grant its operator a franchise. The thing with nuclear power plants is the gestation period for the investment requires several decades. So our private partner will need the political and legal security of a franchise from Congress. That is definitely on the table, and I will tell President Duterte to consider that approach as well,” he said.

The EO states the country “shall ensure the peaceful use of nuclear technology anchored on critical tenets of public safety, national security, energy self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability.”

Duterte issued the policy following the recommendation of the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), which conducted a pre-feasibility study and public consultation on the matter.

Through EO 164, the Chief Executive has recognized that nuclear power can be a reliable, cost-competitive, and environmentfriendly source of energy based on the experience of highly developed countries.

“For the country to achieve its sustained growth targets, it must ensure that it has a reliable, secure, sustainable, quality and affordable electricity supply, including sufficient reserve to guarantee that there will be no disruptions in the power supply,” the policy read.

It added that the use of nuclear energy will address the increasing demand for clean energy, rising by 4.4 percent annually, or an additional capacity of 68 gigawatts by 2040.

The BNPP was the only nuclear power plant in the region during the 1980s, as the Philippines was one of the first Southeast Asian countries to embark on a nuclear energy program.

The project, however, was mothballed because of corruption allegations and safety concerns on the use of nuclear energy.

A study conducted by Russia State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM) in 2017 said the rehabilitation of BNPP will require around USD3 billion to USD4 billion.

Duterte approves inclusion of nuclear power in PH energy mix

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Executive Order (EO) 164 that now includes the potential of nuclear power in the country’s energy mix.

Released on Thursday, EO 164 was signed by the Chief Executive last February 28.

“This policy is the start of the national nuclear power program,” said Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza Jr. in a press conference.

Under the new policy, it stated that the country “shall ensure the peaceful use of nuclear technology anchored on critical tenets of public safety, national security, energy self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability”.

Duterte issued the policy following the recommendation of the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), which conducted a pre-feasibility study and public consultation on the matter.

Through EO 164, the Chief Executive has recognized that nuclear power can be a reliable, cost-competitive, and environmentfriendly source of energy based on the experience of highly developed countries.

“For the country to achieve its sustained growth targets, it must ensure that it has a reliable, secure, sustainable, quality and affordable electricity supply, including sufficient reserve to guarantee that there will be no disruptions in the power supply,” the policy read.

It added the use of nuclear energy

Continued from page 1 will address the increasing demand for clean energy, rising by 4.4 percent annually, or an additional capacity of 68 gigawatts by 2040.

The EO still included the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in the national nuclear program, but other nuclear power installations will be pursued.

The BNPP was the only nuclear power plant in the region during the 1980s, as the Philippines was one of the first Southeast Asian countries to embark on a nuclear energy program.

However, the project was mothballed because of corruption allegations and safety concerns on the use of nuclear energy.

A study conducted by Russia State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM) in 2017 said the rehabilitation of BNPP will require around USD3 billion to USD4 billion.

The public is also becoming more open to the potential of nuclear energy.

“(A) Public Perception Survey on Nuclear Energy in 2019 indicated that almost 79 percent of Filipinos expressed approval or acceptability of the possible use or rehabilitation of an existing nuclear power plant,” the EO said.

The same survey showed that 65 percent approved the construction of new nuclear power plants and 78 percent are open to learning more about nuclear energy.

Release date of fuel subsidy for PUVs still unclear -- LTFRB exec

The fuel subsidy budget for public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers has yet to be released, and the exact date for the payout is still uncertain, an official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said Thursday.

LTFRB-National Capital Region director Atty. Zona Tamayo said they are expediting the release of the funds with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“Wala pa po ‘yung eksaktong petsa pero tayo ay nagmamadali na rin po sa Department of Transportation (DOTr) at LTFRB kaya nakipag-ugnayan na tayo sa DBM upang ma-release na po ang budget sa amin,” she said when asked when the subsidy will be distributed to beneficiaries.

Under the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the fuel subsidy funds could only be released if the Dubai crude oil price for three months averaged or exceeded $80 per barrel.

Tamayo said that the LTFRB already asked the Department of Energy for a certification of such a requirement.

Amid the recent hikes in fuel prices, the DOTr has requested the DBM for funds to cover 377,443 beneficiaries who would be receiving fuel subsidies amounting to P6,500 each, or a total of P2,453,379,500.

Meanwhile, Tamayo said the LTFRB is looking into the possible effect of the proposed fare increase on the prices of goods.

“Iintindihin ho natin na kailangan po nating balansehin ito dahil alam naman po natin na may domino effect po sakaling magtaas ng pamasahe, apektado rin po yung presyo ng ibang bilihin,” she said.

She added that the LTFRB will work with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in assessing the possible impact of the proposed fare increase. (MNS)

Michelle Kang, General Secretary of the Atlanta Korean Committee against Asian Hate: “AAPI’s have become louder during the pandemic in response to the rise of Asian hate, especially after the March 16 Atlanta shooting massacre. We were furious and frustrated over the attacks and killings of eight innocent people and six Asian women.”

“In Georgia, the first generation of Korean Americans formed the Atlanta Korean American Committee Against Asian hate on March 17… The committee created a space where black, brown, and other people of color gather to heal and support each other.”

“During the 2021 elections AAPI’s made a tremendous effort to elect representatives who pushed the country in solidarity to stop hate crimes and to achieve inclusion and racial equity… Georgia AAPI is making a historical record having 12 progressive Asian American candidates, including young candidates in their 20s to represent all Americans.”

Sasanna Yee, inspirational speaker and yoga teacher whose grandmother was fatally attacked at a San Francisco Park in 2019:

“My grandmother immigrated here in the late 80s. She was unfortunately physically attacked across the street from her home when she went for a walk in the park in the neighborhood that I grew up in and I still live in. It’s called Visitacion Valley.”

“The young man that hurt her was 17 years old at the time… My grandmother’s brain was bashed, she fell on her face with her broken ribs. She was in very bad condition… What happened to this young man that caused him to do such a thing? He must be in so much pain. I know because when I’m in pain, I also hurt people.”

“My own journey of healing chronic pain, anxiety, and depression has really helped me to be more compassionate towards others… My practice of yoga, Qi Gong, meditation, have helped me relate to my own suffering and the suffering of other people.”

“Black Lives Matter was such a powerful rallying slogan. What is it for Asians? My team and I came up with “Asians belong”. This phrase is affirming. This phrase acknowledges that we have been seen as perpetual foreigners but no longer. We are reclaiming our stories and our voice.”