A GROWING number of senators are now signifying full support for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s (PBBM) laid-out plan to rebuild nuclear power plants in the Philippines.

In his interpellation Wednesday, Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino said that adopting nuclear energy as part of the country’s power sources would help “lower” electricity rates paid by Filipinos.

Tolentino said he made his own research on the issue, and he maintains that this will help achieve energy sufficiency, clean air, and a healthy atmosphere for everyone.

“It will give us clean energy. Let the records reflect that this representation is 100 percent in favor of nuclear energy,” Tolentino said before the Senate floor.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said he sees “nothing wrong” if appropriate government agencies will submit their study for a thorough review.

Gatchalian asks the Department of Energy (DOE) to brief Congress on whether nuclear energy must be injected into the country’s energy mix, especially in light of climate change.

During the plenary session, Gatchalian pointed out that an estimated P266 million had been given to the previous management of DOE to fund a study on the viability of injecting nuclear energy into the country’s energy source.

However, the former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy said he had yet to receive an update on the ongoing DOE study.

“We should request the Department of Energy to brief us, because that is a large sum of money to study the possibility, the risk, and the opportunities, the benefits to consumers, and we have not seen the report of that study,” Gatchalian said.

He added that to be able for them to support this move, there should be a thorough scientific-based study that would be the guiding document for the legislators.

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., in a short interview, said President Marcos Jr. made his point on the nuclear energy issue because “his goal is to uplift the lives of Filipinos.”

The chief executive, he pointed out, is “determined” to do this.

“We have reviewed this move but I am very sure that President Marcos Jr., has pure intention and he is determined to uplift the lives of Filipinos. We should consider different measures to face our challenges. Seryoso ang pangulo sa adhikain na i-angat ang buhay ng bawat isa. Dapat natin siyang tulungan sa ganitong magandang adhikain,” Revilla said.

For her part, Sen. Risa Hontiveros from the minority bloc raises three issues that need to be considered in the possible launching of a nuclear energy program in the country.

Senate President Migz Zubiri also said he is inclined to look into the use of nuclear energy as a part of the energy mix for the country, citing our neighboring countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia that have nuclear energy plans.

“If the country is to develop and provide jobs for the growing population of the country, the [government] must provide the electricity supply to support industrialization,” Zubiri said.

In her manifestation, Hontiveros cited safety, economic viability, and disposal issues that must be discussed before a nuclear power program is considered.

“I think it would be interesting to review those nuclear power plants that had accidents. The Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima in Japan were at the top of the line and were observing the highest safety standards ostensibly, and yet they encountered accidents,” Hontiveros pointed out during the plenary session yesterday.