Philippines: Bataan execs buck BNPP revival

Philippines: Bataan execs buck BNPP revival

Officials of Bataan and the Catholic diocese of Balanga are opposed to
reviving and operating the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in
Morong town.

Bataan Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia, Gov. Albert Garcia and Bataan Bishop
Ruperto Santos, along with the Nuclear Free Bataan Movement (NFBM), consider
the BNPP dangerous.

The congressman said he and the governor went to Davao last week and told
President Duterte about their fears.

"We are greatly concerned with regards to safety," he said. "It will have an
effect on tourism and the development of resorts, as well as business."

"A big part of Asia is in the Pacific Ring of Fire so we are susceptible to
earthquakes," Garcia said. "Bataan is in between the National Capital Region
and heavily populated Central Luzon and Calabarzon. Millions of people would
be affected if the plant suffers a problem."

Santos said government officials should take into consideration the life and
future of the people and environment and not profit or material convenience.

"We are firm in our decision to oppose any move to rehabilitate the BNPP,"
he said. "We have tarpaulins in all churches in opposition to the BNPP and
we will disseminate the message to all diocesan schools."

The NFBM considers nuclear power as the deadliest energy source invented by
man.

The provincial and congressional officials, priests and NFBM urged
government to instead study the use of renewable energy such as wind, solar,
geothermal and hydro, which they said are still not sufficiently tapped.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/11/21/1645944/bataan-execs-buck-bnpp-
revival

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com