“THE disasters in Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima are powerful albeit sorrowful reminders of the risks of nuclear power that we need not expose Filipinos to.”
This was stressed by Diocese of San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, as he called on President Rodrigo Duterte not to pursue the proposed Executive Order (EO) to include nuclear power in the country’s energy mix.
Alminaza, who is the vice chairperson of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines - National Secretariat for Social Action, in a statement yesterday, said all three accidents happened in states with far more advanced technology, infrastructure, and experience than the Philippines.
“For this reason, I am greatly concerned with the proposed EO that is said to be drafted by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi which would include nuclear power in our energy mix,” he said.
The bishop said instead of empowering the people, energy from nuclear activities threatens human life and the lives of creatures big and small.
“We hope and pray that President Rodrigo Duterte will not turn back on his word in the 2019 State of the Nation Address which charged the Department of Energy with the task of promoting renewable energy, a cheaper and safer source of energy compared to the possible holocaust risked with nuclear power,” Alminaza said.
He furthered “we urge the President not to sign this Executive Order and instead remind Cusi to make renewable energy our primary source of electricity.”
This is what would truly be beneficial for the people, and would also serve as a concrete act of care for our common home, the church official added.