[Opinion] reaction to the Manila Times article entitled “Aquino MTPDP proposes nuke plant” – Partido Kalikasan

This is a reaction to the Manila Times article entitled “Aquino MTPDP proposes nuke plant” published April 5 (2011). I wish to play witness to two events in the process of formulating the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP 2011-2016) that we know of where the proposal for nuclear energy program was discussed. Partido Kalikasan…

Human Rights Online Philippines

April 6, 2011

2–3 minutes

Alternative energy, Civil Society, Energy, Manila Times, Metro Manila, Nuclear power, Partido Kalikasan, philippines, Quezon City

This is a reaction to the Manila Times article entitled “Aquino MTPDP proposes nuke plant” published April 5 (2011).

I wish to play witness to two events in the process of formulating the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP 2011-2016) that we know of where the proposal for nuclear energy program was discussed.

Partido Kalikasan (Philippine Green Party), joined the National Consultation of the MTPDP. We openly opposed the formulation then of a “National Nuclear Energy Program” as one of the targets of the MTPDP. The MTPDP infrastructure planning committee where this was discussed agreed to withdraw this proposal but in the plenary presentation, they still mentioned this as part of the alternative sources of energy that should be studied.

In the inter-planning committee workshop that followed weeks after, the Civil Society representative Pastor Delbert Rice raised opposition against even the inclusion of a study on nuclear energy as an alternative source in plenary. NEDAs Paderanga who chaired this session noted this position.

Let it be known publicly that we opposed this proposal from the very beginning. The article of Mr. Amojelar; where he noted that Paderanga said this proposal was “…one of the possibilities that was mentioned during the consultation with the civil society as an alternative source of power” must be updated to also say that the civil society representative and Partido Kalikasan opposed this proposal.

Now that the MTPDP has been “approved in principle”, the public can now judge the stand of this current government on nuclear energy program.

Roy Cabonegro
Secretary-General
Partido Kalikasan

Room 302 CRM Bldg, Kamias Road corner Kasing Kasing Street, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Email: roycabonegro@yahoo.com