Vice President Leni Robredo reads placards of supporters in Silang, Cavite. Image from VP Leni Robredo / Facebook
DASMARIÑAS, Cavite — While Vice President Leni Robredo said that she is open to talks about using nuclear energy, it remains far from her priorities as she is looking to prepare the country for a carbon neutral future if she is elected president in 2022.
On the sidelines of her visit to volunteers in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Robredo said that her focus is towards fulfilling the country’s commitments according to the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference held last 2021.
The Vice President made this statement after being asked to comment on the Executive Order recently-signed by President Rodrigo Duterte to pave the way for the use of nuclear energy as an alternative source — which in turn fueled fears that the decommissioned Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) will be revived.
“Balikan natin bakit di nag-operate at all iyong BNPP? Kasi maraming problema. While bukas tayo sa discussion on tapping nuclear energy, least of our priorities iyon dahil iyong priority talaga natin ngayon ay papunta na tayo sa COP 26 commitment, na carbon neutral na tayo by 2050,” Robredo told reporters.
READ: Duterte signs EO for nuclear power use as alternative energy source
According to Robredo, there should be concrete frameworks about tapping renewable energy and subsequently ending reliance on carbon-based energy sources.
“‘Yong roadmap sa pagiging carbon neutral natin, preference for indigenous sources of power, preference for renewable sources, dapat andito na tayo sa pagsulat ng milestones sa energy mix, dapat designed na iyong plano nito, kasi ngayon, wala pa tayong plano. Kung paano natin ireretire yung coal plants, wala pang roadmap,” Robredo explained.
“Magsishift ba tayo to liquefied natural gas, or shift to renewable? Wala pa yun. dapat iyon ang tutukan natin,” she added.
While nuclear energy can be a solution to several issues like a think electricity supply, Robredo encouraged the people to remember why the BNPP plan was shelved in the first place.
“Totoo na magiging problema natin ang supply ng kuryente, pero with regards to BNPP, pero balikan natin bakit sa dami ng ginastos natin hindi natin nagamit kasi maraming problema,” she said.
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