PH-US '123 nuclear deal' to be signed during Marcos' San Francisco trip, envoy says

SAN FRANCISCO, USA - Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez on Wednesday (PH Time) confirmed that the "123 Agreement" on nuclear-related investments, including nuclear energy, between the US and the Philippines will be signed during President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s trip to San Francisco, California. 

"Yes," Romualdez said in a Viber message when asked if the deal will be signed this week. 

The 123 Agreement will provide the legal framework for civil and nuclear-related investments in the country. 

Romualdez told GMA News Online that through this deal, "we can import from the US the nuclear power technology."

The talks on this were launched during the visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris to the Philippines.

Marcos had said that together with the United States and other partners, especially the private sector, ''we will build the necessary infrastructure to help power a growing economy, as we transition to clean and renewable energy."

In his first State of the Nation Address, Marcos expressed his desire to adopt nuclear energy as part of the country’s power mix, but said the government’s strategy has to be rethought.

“I believe it is time to re-examine our strategy towards building nuclear power plants in the Philippines,” Marcos said back in July. 

“At present, our demand for energy far exceeds our reliable supply. We must increase the level of energy production... We must look at every possible option that would be appropriate for the Philippine situation,” he added.

During his state visit to Washington in May, Marcos met with officials of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, which is a US-based firm global leader and vertical integrator of nuclear technologies and services.

“Our search for new power sources should always be with an eye to improving the energy supply mix between traditional and renewable sources,” Marcos said during his SONA. 

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute had welcomed the civil nuclear cooperation talks between the Philippines and the United States.  —VAL, GMA Integrated News