03/07/2026
๐ฅ๐๐๐: The Municipal Council of Morong, Bataan has formally approved on third and final reading an ordinance declaring the municipality a "Non-Nuclear Zone," prohibiting the establishment, operation, and storage of nuclear power facilities and other radioactive materials within its jurisdiction.
The ordinance was passed on June 22, 2026, in Morong, home to the 621-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). Although the facility was completed in 1984, it has never been commissioned and remains at the center of ongoing debate over proposals to revive its operations.
According to the Nuclear-Free Bataan Movement, the ordinance aims to ensure the safety of residents, protect the environment, and uphold the people's right to participate in decisions that directly affect their lives, livelihoods, and future.
The measure was approved during the commemoration of the 33rd No Nukes Asia Forum, an annual gathering of environmental advocates, youth organizations, and people's groups from the Philippines and other countries. The forum commemorates the historic "Welga ng Bayan Laban sa Plantang Nuklear" (People's Protest Against the Nuclear Power Plant), held from June 18 to 20, 1985, when more than 30,000 demonstrators marched in Bataan to oppose the activation of the BNPP.
With the passage of the ordinance, Morong has joined the growing number of local government units that have taken a firm stand against nuclear energy, particularly the proposed reopening of the BNPP.
It can be recalled that Indian climate justice expert Dr. S.P. Udayakumar warned against plans to revive the BNPP, saying that no country has developed a completely safe and permanent solution for the disposal and management of nuclear waste, which remains hazardous for thousands of years.
Dr. Udayakumar also argued that nuclear energy is not a practical solution to rising electricity costs because of the enormous expenses involved in building, operating, and eventually decommissioning nuclear power plants. He added that most nuclear facilities rely heavily on government subsidies, as private investors are generally unwilling to shoulder the industry's high costs and risks.
He further emphasized that nuclear power accounts for only about three percent of India's total electricity supply, which, he said, demonstrates its limited contribution to energy security and its inability to serve as a comprehensive solution to climate change.
Meanwhile, the group Pagkakaisa ng Kababaihan para sa Kalayaan (KAISA KA) called for the strict observance of the 1987 Philippine Constitution's provision promoting a Philippines free of nuclear weapons and urged local communities to remain vigilant against projects involving nuclear technology.
Dr. Udayakumar also suggested that instead of investing in nuclear energy, the Philippines should prioritize the development of renewable energy sources, particularly wind power, citing the country's extensive coastlines and more than 7,000 islands as having enormous potential for clean energy generation.
On the other hand, Pangasinan 2nd district representative Mark Cojuangco, one of the strongest advocates for reopening the BNPP, defended nuclear energy. He argued that renewable energy also has limitations, particularly large-scale solar farms, which he said consume valuable agricultural land and could worsen flooding in certain areas.
Environmental groups have likewise continued to raise concerns about the location of the BNPP, noting that it is situated near active fault lines. As a result, many residents and experts remain worried about the potential risks posed by a major earthquake should the plant ever become operational.
As the country marks more than four decades since the people's protest against the BNPP, public opinion on nuclear energy remains deeply divided. Various sectors continue to call for a comprehensive assessment of the plant's safety, environmental impact, economic viability, and long-term implications before any decision is made regarding its future.
Originally estimated to cost more than US$700 million, the BNPP project eventually ballooned to US$2.3 billion. The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) later found that former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. had received US$80 million in alleged kickback commissions related to the project.
*The Tagalog version can be read in the comment section.
