AFTER President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spoke of revisiting the use of nuclear energy in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Malacañang assured the public that the proposed project will comply with international safety standards.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Palace Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Department of Energy (DOE) will comply with the safety, security and safeguards requirements set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“We need to explain the safety of nuclear energy. We are making sure that once we push through with this project, we will study this completely,” Castro said in Filipino.
Critics online pointed out that even nations with highly advanced technologies, such as Japan, have faced nuclear disasters.
Castro acknowledged such concerns but reiterated that the Philippines would implement policies designed to prevent similar incidents.
Castro assured the public that the government is conducting thorough studies to assess all potential risks and would put safeguards in place.
“The policies used here will not be hidden from you,” Castro added.
Following the SONA on Monday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she opposed the proposal of the president, saying the country lacks the indigenous raw materials needed to operate a nuclear plant.
She also cited the persistent issues other countries faced — nuclear waste.
Instead of nuclear energy, she suggested the use of the country’s other natural resources.
The DOE previously said 25 percent of the country’s energy sources are from natural resources. They hope to increase this to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
