Senator Loren Legarda (Photo from BIBO NUEVA ESPAÑA / Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda opposed the inclusion of Antique in the list of places that are potential nuclear energy sites.
“I’m 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 money, your time and your resources. I will oppose your budget,” she warned.
She made her stand known during Thursday’s hearing on the 2026 proposed budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agencies.
“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 (fellow citizens) will not be in favor,” she added. “Of all places, why Antique? We’re experiencing floods. We have mountains. We have indigenous people.”
Legarda said she was shocked when she heard on the news that Antique was recommended as a nuclear energy site.
Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla said he was not the one who recommended Antique.
He said there is a nuclear energy program interagency committee that’s chaired by the Department of Energy (DOE).
“It has been conducting studies on siting. So, these are sites that were, first those which were identified when we first built our nuclear power plant in Bataan. Then, in addition, they’ve been looking at other areas as well,” he said.
Lotilla said he was not updated on the announcement that includes Antique as a possible site.
“But we have identified from the DENR standpoint is that if the government, and that’s through Congress, does move ahead with the nuclear power, that before such permits can be issued, there has to be an ECC (Environment Compliance Certificate) that has to be issued by the DENR,” he said.
“And to be able to conduct the ECC in accordance with international standards, then we will have to build up the capacity within our environmental management bureau to be able to respond to that challenge,” he added.
The DENR secretary said one of the leading agencies that can identify suitable sites is the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
He said they will find out more about the details of the report that included Antique.
Legarda appealed to the DENR to take out the province from the list of potential sites for a nuclear facility, stressing that people will not allow it.
“There’s no need to think about it. Do not study it. It will not fly. Do not waste money. No one was consulted about that… We need to be more safety-conscious,” she said.
The Amlig Antique Alliance earlier opposed the inclusion of province as one of the new potential sites for a nuclear power plant in the country.
“We strongly oppose and condemn the reported inclusion of the province of Antique — particularly Semirara Island —as a potential site for a nuclear power plant,” the group said, warning that it might be a “disaster waiting to happen.” /apl