Part II of Prof. Kelvin S. Rodolfo’s article on natural geological hazards present to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (NBPP) has been released already here.

The article talks about 3 earlier reports that document the dangers that Mt. Natib poses to the BNPP and its surrounding areas. These are the 1992 report of Dr. Ronnie Torres, a 2001 report submitted to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) by Dr. Ernesto Sonido and Mr. Jesse Umbal. There was also a 1997 joint study by the author, Joan Cabato, Dr. Fernando Siringan and some folks from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the National Power Corp.

The combined protest action of the Catholic Church and Environmentalist groups against the bill filed by Cong. Mark Cojuangco to reopen the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant had over 2000 attendees coming.

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Prof. Kelvin Rodolfo of the Univ of Illinois’ Department of Earth and University of the Philippines published part 1 of his article on the volcanic and earthquake hazards facing the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

The BNPP is in the middle of a controversy between Cong. Cojuangco’s Bill to revive the plant and those who oppose it’s revival. Opposition to the bill is mounting with the most noise coming from activist group GreenPeace and the powerful Catholic Church
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A bishop from the very powerful Catholic Church in the Philippines had signified his intent to lead a rally opposing Cong. Mark Cojuangco’s House Bill 4631 which aims to re-open the mothballed Bataan nuclear power plant in the Philippines. Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas, said that he would lead the rally which will be held at the San Jose Cathedral in Balanga on February 23.

Bishop Villegas stated that the negative effects of opening the nuclear power plant far outweighs the pro’s. Specifically on the matters of waste disposal and security. He also said that the big power plant would make an enticing target to terrorists in the country.
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Moves by lawmakers and Department of Energy to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant are causing environmentalists to rise up against their plans.

In Congress, Reps. Mark Cojuangco (son of San Miguel Corp Boss Danding Cojuangco) and Rep Juan Miguel Arroyo (Son of Philippine President Macapagal-Arroyo) have been pushing for its reopening citing that nuclear power is clean, safe and cheap energy. Last year, Sen. Miriam Santiago introduced a bill in the Senate that calls for the revival of the mothballed nuclear power plant. Cong. Cojuangco meanwhile authored House Bill 4631 which pushes the same thing in congress.
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Reacting to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s bill proposing to reopen the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power plant, Greenpeace submitted a position paper to the Chamber opposing the measure and batting instead for renewable energy.

Greenpeace’s paper states that:
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