Bongbong, Sara to push for nuclear energy adoption to lower power rates

Should they win in the coming elections, the tandem of presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte vowed to hasten the country's adoption of nuclear power in a bid to lower electricity rates.

This came after President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order tapping nuclear power as an energy source along with other alternative energy resources.

Marcos and the younger Duterte believed that "incorporating nuclear power in the Philippines' energy mix would lower electricity rates and help secure a steady power source."

"The President's executive order is a good springboard for the next administration to pursue its nuclear energy objectives. Our vision for the country is to have at least one nuclear power plant so we can finally produce cheap energy and for us to lower our electricity rates," the tandem said in a press release.

Duterte's EO 164 states that the national "government will assess, review and develop nuclear energy plans using integrated approaches that consider both the provision of energy supplies, and the role of energy efficiency in meeting increasing demand for energy."

For his part, Marcos already expressed intention to revisit the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), which has been mothballed for more than three decades.

The Marcos camp has said the plant can provide cheap and steady energy supply baseload for the communities.

The former senator has also called for the increased use of renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, and geothermal to complement the current power generation sources.—AOL, GMA News