By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY – An environmental group strongly opposes the proposal to build a nuclear power plant in Semirara Island, the government’s coal mine reserve located in Caluya town, Antique province.
In this September 2016 photo, heavy equipment are seen working at one of the coal pits of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC), the country’s largest coal producer in Caluya town, Antique province. (TARA YAP / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Save Antique Movement (SAM), led by its president Bong Sanchez, appealed to local officials following the statement of scientist Dr. Carlo Arcilla, director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, that Semirara was an ideal site for a nuclear power plant.
SAM is urging Antigue Rep. Loren Legarda, Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, Vice Gov. Edgar Denosta, and Provincial Board Member Noel Alamis to officially oppose Arcilla’s proposal in lieu of the economic gains.
“If in the past, Antiqueños stood firm on their ground not to host a coal-fired power plant, the more the people of Antique must oppose the proposal of setting up a nuclear power plant in Semirara,” SAM emphasized.
While nuclear power plants do not emit toxic gases and it’s relatively cheaper to other sources of energy, SAM is also concerned of the long-term risk faced by both people and the environment to radiation.
“Nuclear power burdens future generations with a potential human and environmental disaster that is not compensated for by the inexpensive electricity it produces,” SAM noted.
SAM has long been advocating for stronger check on the operations of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC), the Consunji-led group that extracts coal for the government-owned mining reserve. This is amidst deaths of coal miners annually and the alleged damage to the environment.