The Catholic Church’s 33 leaders united in opposing the planned construction of a power plant in Labrador, Pangasinan. They affirmed the pastoral letter first released by Archbishop Socrates Villegas of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan on December 6. On December 8, the bishops and archbishops issued a letter wherein they urged the government and the Filipino people to prioritize safe and sustainable renewable energy instead of nuclear power.

The Catholic leaders’ letter expressed grave concern and opposition to the plan to build a nuclear plant. They said the proposed site is dangerous because it lies near the East Zambales Fault Line and is frequently hit by earthquakes and typhoons. The government also lacks a safe and long-term solution for disposing a nuclear power plant’s radioactive waste by-product.

According to the Department of Energy, the agency plans to build a 1,200-megawatt nuclear plant in Pangasinan, costing ₱255 billion and covering an area of 120 hectares.

On November 3, Department of Energy secretary Sharon Garin announced that the Philippine government is accepting applications for the construction of nuclear power plants under the newly established Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM). The agency will be responsible for licensing, supervision, and compliance with regulations governing the use of nuclear energy.

“Resources for renewable energy should be better maximized instead of investing in a dangerous technology from the past. Only private companies will benefit from the nuclear project while endangering the public. Protecting life and the environment should also be given higher priority. Millions of citizens, farms, ecosystems, and the economy will suffer if a nuclear accident occurs,” the Catholic leaders said in the letter.

“We call on government officials and the Filipino people to choose the path of prudence and preservation. Pangasinan does not belong to us; we owe it to the next generation to keep the province safe from disasters brought by nuclear calamities,” the group said.

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