Isko on nuclear power: There are other energy sources available

TABUK, Kalinga — Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said on Saturday that the country should rather focus on developing alternative energy sources than invest in nuclear power.

Nuclear power, according to Moreno, is a "far-fetched" option.

“Yes, kasi far-fetched pa ‘yun eh kasi meron pang available way. ‘Yun ang tingin ko dapat natin pagtuunan ng pansin,” he said in an ambush interview.

(Yes, because it is far-fetched and there are other available ways. That’s what I think we should focus on.)

The Aksyon Demokratiko bet said there are other sources of power such as coal, hydrothermal, geothermal, and solar.

He issued the remark when asked about ways to make sure nuclear power plants will be environmentally safe following Russia’s takeover of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

“So gamitin muna natin 'yung available energy na mas safe, renewable, and sustainable,” he said.

(We should use the available energy that is safer, renewable, and sustainable.)

President Rodrigo Duterte recently issued an executive order tapping nuclear power as an energy source.

Duterte also ordered an inter-agency committee to study and make recommendations on the use and viability of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

'Silicon Valley'

Moreno has said he is against the recommissioning of the BNPP.

On Saturday, the presidential hopeful said that he intends to transform the land where the BNPP is located into something similar to tech hub Silicon Valley in the United States.

“Yung nuclear power plant sa Bataan, gagawin ko siyang Silicon Valley. Kasi, sayang naman, pag-aari ng gobyerno. Let’s make use of it but not for creating power source via nuclear,” he said.

(I'm going to develop a Silicon Valley out of the Bataan nuclear power plant. It would be a waste if we will not use it because it is government property. Let us make use of it, but not for the purpose of generating electricity using nuclear power.)

Rice Tariffication Law

Moreno also promised to push for amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law, noting losses suffered by local farmers as a result of an influx of rice imports.

He also said he would make importation difficult.

“Ibig sabihin, pahihirapan natin na mag import na mag import na walang pakundangan. Gagamitin natin ‘yung kakayanan natin bilang estado sa quality ng mga produktong imported na ito," Moreno said.

(We'll make it harder to import incessantly. We shall use the state's power in looking into the quality of imported goods.) — VBL, GMA News