The Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment condemned plans by the Marcos Jr. regime to construct six nuclear plants in the town of Labrador in Pangasinan province as exposed by the Pangasinan People’s Strike for the Environment (PPSE).
Residents of the town who joined the PPSE were shown a “consent” document by the local government to allow the establishment of such nuclear plants. The local government claimed that the nuclear facilities are “safe, inexpensive, clean and dependable” and that the municipality will “derive income from it and give benefits and employment” to residents.
The PPSE, however, warned that the nuclear waste from the plants will remain radioactive and dangerous for tens of thousands of years and will be a threat to the communities. The PPSE instead recommended for community-led solar and wind projects among other sources of renewable energy.
Earlier in September 2022, national groups like Kalikasan and AGHAM (Advocates of Science and Technology for the People) formed an alliance to oppose plans to reopen the moth-balled Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.
It can be recalled that the United States and the Marcos Jr regime signed the 123 Agreement Negotiations for Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation where the US will export nuclear equipment and materials and deploy advanced nuclear reactor technology to the Philippines. This agreement was formalized during the visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris in November last year.
In a statement, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said once in force, the so-called 123 agreement will “provide the legal basis for US exports of nuclear equipment and material to the Philippines.”
Castro and other Makabayan Party List members criticized the proposed nuclear power plants to address the lack of electrical power as just a ploy to hide the military uses of the plants. Makabayan pointed out that the nuclear technology that US wants to introduce into the Philippines has dual purposes. Many aspects of the nuclear development programs can be easily diverted for the purpose of war.