Environmental advocates, scientists, activists, members of the academe and religious sectors, peasants, fisherfolk, health professionals and personalities recently linked up to form a broad opposition against the proposed revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).
BY RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat
Environmental advocates, scientists, activists, members of the academe and religious sectors, peasants, fisherfolk, health professionals and personalities recently linked up to form a broad opposition against the proposed revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).
The Network Opposed to Bataan Nuclear Power Plant Revival (NO to BNPP Revival!) was launched Feb. 11 in Quezon City. More than 40 organizations have joined the network.
Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco filed the bill titled “Bataan Nuclear Power Plant Commissioning Act of 2008”. The bill has already been approved by the Energy Committee and is now pending in the Appropriations Committee.
A counterpart bill in the Senate, Senate Bill No. 2665, was filed by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. It is still pending in the Committee on Energy.
In a message addressed to the new alliance, Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr, said, “The mothballed nuclear plant of 1976 was not just a glorified stove but a structure that embedded vital defects- one that could have spawned death and destruction in its wake. It had no adequate nuclear waste disposal, no sufficient contingencies against possible volcanic eruptions in the area. It was overly expensive, mired in massive corruption.”
“Let us not resurrect this dangerous and expensive demon of the past, let us resort to safer methods of providing electricity,” Guingona added.
Giovanni Tapang, spokesperson of NO to BNPP! and chairperson of scientist group AGHAM said, “The network’s launch communicates the people’s response and their geared-up resolve to fight and take action amid the proponents’ move to railroad and even fast track the re-opening of the plant.”
House Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo said, “Nire-railroad ang bill. Dapat magpatuloy muna ang public hearings.” (The bill is being railroaded. Public hearings must first continue.)
He said that only two public hearings were held and oppositors were not able to voice out their opinion. Ocampo said he and other party-list representatives would raise such concern to the House Committee on Rules. Ocampo said the bill should be referred back to the Energy Committee for public hearings.
In her message, Senator Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said the revival of the BNPP is an insult to the Filipino people. “Walang benepisyong makukuha ang mamamayan mula rito. Walang dahilan para buhayin pa itong muli.” (The Filipino people will not benefit from the rehabilitation of the BNPP. There is no reason to revive it.)
