Legarda slams proposal to build nuclear power plant in Antique

Senator Loren Legarda on Thursday expressed opposition to the proposed construction of a nuclear power plant in her home province, Antique, saying that she will block the budget of any agency pushing for such. 

Legarda made the stern warning during the Senate committee on finance’s deliberations on the proposed P28.1 billion budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and its attached agencies for fiscal year 2026.

“I saw in the news the other day that Antique was recommended as a nuclear energy site. Just to put it on record, I am not in favor of that and I think the provincial government will not be in favor, and many, or most, if not all, of our kasimanwas will not be in favor,” Legarda told Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

“I am not in favor and I am not alone. I will block it every step of the way. Whichever government agency is studying it, do not waste your time and your resources. And I will oppose your budget…kung sinong ahensya ang nagmungkahi (whichever agency is proposing such),” she added. 

Lotilla, in response, explained that there is an inter-agency committee on the nuclear program, chaired by the Department of Energy, that has been conducting studies on the siting for the project. According to him, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is also one of the leading members in identifying suitable sites. 

“So these are sites that were…identified when we first built our nuclear power plant in Bataan. Then, in addition, they've been looking at other areas as well. So, I have not updated on the announcement that includes Antique,” he said. 

Lotilla also affirmed that he was not the one who recommended Antique as a possible nuclear power plant site during his stint as secretary of the DOE. He also said he had no access with the specific studies for the proposal. 

He further pointed out that an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) has to be issued first by the DENR before a nuclear energy site is constructed in certain areas. 

“What we will do is we will find out more from the NEP-IAC (Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee) and the DOE on the details of this report and provide you with details as well,” he added. 

Legarda then asked the DENR to submit to the committee the NEP-IAC study, and sought a commitment from Lotilla that they will not approve the ECC that would allow the construction of a nuclear power plant in her hometown. 

“I can speak for the people—they will not approve any nuclear facility in our province. You know that. Binabaha tayo, may katutubo, may yamang-lupa, pero hindi dapat doon at hindi bagay. Hindi kailangang pag-isipan sa siyensya, hindi papayag ang mga tao,” she emphasized. 

(We are being flooded, we have indigenous people, and we have natural resources, so the power plant should not be built there as it is not appropriate. We don’t need science to prove this. The people will disagree.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News