Pacquiao proposes floating nuclear power plants as alternative to reviving BNPP

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Saturday proposed the construction of floating nuclear power plants to boost the country's energy supply and lower electricity bills.

Floating nuclear power plants are mobile low-capacity reactors operable in remote areas isolated from the power grid or in places hard to access by land.

Pacquiao said he also favors the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and mini-hydro.

“Bibigyang pansin natin ang lahat ng mga puwedeng maging source ng enerhiya pero pag-aaralang mabuti para sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi na tayo kulangin sa ating power supply," the presidential candidate said in a statement.

(We will pay attention to all possible sources of energy and study them carefully so that we will not experience a shortage in power supply.)

However, Pacquiao said he has no intention of reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

Another presidential candidate, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., has already expressed his desire to take a "second look" at the BNPP, according to UniTeam adviser Jonathan dela Cruz.

Pacquiao also urged a review of the country’s energy policies as he criticized the decision of previous governments to privatize utilities, including the power sector, which could have otherwise provided a steady source of non-tax revenue income.

He also said the country's debt problem stemmed from corruption and full dependence on tax revenues.

"Hindi ako pabor sa pagsasapribado ng public utilities habang panay ang utang natin. Dapat sana ay asset natin ang utilities dahil makaka pag-generate ng revenue para sa gobyerno. Kaso mas naging polisiya ng gobyerno ang mangutang," Pacquiao said.

(I am not in favor of privatizing public utilities while we continue to borrow money. Utilities should be assets of the state because they can generate revenue for the government. But the government prioritized borrowing as their policy.) — VBL, GMA News