Mark Cojuangco proposes nuke power plant in Mindanao

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines—Former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco has sought the support of the South Cotabato provincial board for a 500-megawatt nuclear power plant proposed to be built in the town of Lake Sebu, Vice Gov. Elmo Tolosa said Wednesday.

Tolosa said by phone that Cojuangco attended the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Monday and presented the proposed nuclear power plant project, which would reportedly be built from a P300-million fund.

He said Cojuangco, in a bid to rally the board into supporting the project, reasoned out that it will help ease the power crisis in Mindanao.

But Tolosa said the board has not signified support for the project because no specific details were presented.

“He just presented it to us as another alternative source of energy that can help ease the current power crisis,” he said.

In an interview over Bombo Radyo on Wednesday, Cojuangco admitted making such a proposal for Lake Sebu, saying it would not only solve the power crisis in Mindanao but would also bring down the cost of electricity as well.

But he did not give specifics as to the project’s proponent.

Santiago Tudio, general manager of the South Cotabato Electric Coop., hinted he was not inclined to support any proposal to build a nuclear power plant in the province. He said it would be dangerous because of the radiation that it will emit.

The use of nuclear power to beef up the country’s energy supply started during the Marcos administration. But the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant that the late strongman’s government built was mothballed over safety and corruption issues.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said earlier this year that nuclear energy was an option for the government in ensuring long-term stability of the country’s power supply.