Marcos on Bataan Nuclear Power Plant: 'Too bad they stopped it'

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday expressed disappointment over the government’s decision in the late 1980s to mothball the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which was built during his father’s administration.

Marcos made the remarks during his visit to the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute.

“In 1986, we were already in the first two phases. We were already in that. In fact, that pool of trained professionals...they're still around waiting to put their knowledge into practice,” Marcos said.

“So we never were going to do the last phase that you have. We already managed to do the first and the second, and too bad, they stopped it,” he added.

EXPLAINER: Why is the Philippines turning to nuclear energy?

The late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ordered the construction of the plant in 1976 in response to rising energy prices. The facility was completed in 1984.

However, it never generated electricity as the project was mothballed following the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Four decades later, Marcos said public sentiment toward nuclear energy had “changed completely” as households seek lower electricity costs.

“We always worry about… people are worried about safety, and the answer that comes back is that, ‘We don’t care where our power comes from, but bring it more cheaper.’ That’s it. We don’t care where it comes from. So that’s changed completely,” Marcos said.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July, Marcos said the administration was working to harness nuclear energy, noting its existing applications in medicine, agriculture, water filtration, and plastic upcycling.

“Pushing the envelope further, perhaps it is time for us to revisit nuclear energy production,” he said, expressing confidence that it could “reinforce our energy security and bring down the cost of electricity in our country.”

“Titiyakin nating ito ay ligtas. Titiyakin din nating maipaliwanag nang mabuti sa publiko ang magandang dulot sa atin ng enerhiyang nukleyar,” he added.

(We will ensure that it is safe. We will also make sure that the benefits of nuclear energy are properly explained to the public.)

On July 29, the Department of Energy said it was considering three locations for a future nuclear power plant, with Bataan among the shortlisted sites. –VBL, GMA News