Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, November 11 maintained that safety issues surrounding the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), remain unanswered, and thus, funds for its maintenance should be realigned to fund the government’s economic recovery programs.

Among the issued hounding the BNPP is its proximity to a potentially active volcano and concerns about radioactive waste disposal. Through the years, experts have consistently pointed to the risky location of BNPP.

The BNPP is situated on top of Mt. Natib, which makes it more prone to the effects of earthquakes and, possibly, eruption.

“Radioactive waste will outlive not just all of us alive today but also the succeeding generations. It can prove fatal and cost people’s lives for thousands of years,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Dahil hindi pa tayo makakampante sa ligtas na paggamit ng nuclear energy, dapat buksan narin ang diskusyon kung may halaga pa ba sa bansa ang BNPP (Since we are not confident with the safe use of nuclear energy, we must open the discussion on whether the BNPP is still of value to the country),” the senator said.

Citing Vera Files, the senator said the government has paid P64.7-billion for the construction of the nuclear power plant that has never been used, and the country continues to spend P40 to P50-million annually for the plant’s upkeep.

“Kaban ng bayan ang ginagastos para sa plantang hindi naman ginagamit at dapat hindi na gamitin dahil sa mga panganib na dala ng nuclear waste (Public coffers are being spent on a plant that is not being used and should not be used because of the dangers posed by nuclear waste),” Hontiveros said.

“Sa taas ng mga presyo ng bilihin at sa kawalan ng disenteng trabaho, common sense naman na dapat ang milyon-milyong piso na ito ay napupunta sa pagpapagaan ng buhay ng Pilipino (With the high prices of goods and the lack of decent jobs, it is common sense that these millions of pesos should go towards making the lives of Filipinos easier),” she stressed.

During the Senate’s budget deliberations on the Department of Energy (DOE), Hontiveros also raised questions regarding the production of nuclear power.

Unlike other many forms of renewable energy (RE) that can be sourced locally, chemicals and minerals needed for nuclear production need to be imported, the senator noted.

“We have to weigh our options carefully. Klaro na hindi tayo magiging handa na buhayin ang BNPP. Kaya kung anumang ginagastos natin para sa maintenance niya, dapat munang ituon na ito sa mga programang makakalutas sa ating krisis sa ekonomiya (it is clear that we will not be ready to revive the BNPP. So if we spend anything for its maintenance, it should first be focused on programs that will solve our economic crisis),” Hontiveros stressed.