Development of Nuclear Energy to be Prioritized with New Special Committee

The House of Representatives has just created a Special Committee on Nuclear Energy. Senior Deputy Majority Floor Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Alexander Marcos motioned for the move. Following the committee’s creation, the lower house elected Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Mark Cojuangco to serve as its chairperson.

The Special Committee on Nuclear Energy will be composed of 25 members. Its primary aim is to handle “all matters directly and principally relating to the policies and programs to the production, utilization, and conservation of nuclear energy.” This includes the development of nuclear power infrastructure and its viability as a reliable, cost-competitive, and environment-friendly energy source. Additionally, the panel will have to ensure that laws and regulations related to nuclear power are consistent with state policy on freedom from nuclear weapons.

Cojuangco maintained his belief that nuclear energy is a cheap, clean, and reliable energy source. “Ako po bilang halal na chairman ng bagong likhang special committee on nuclear energy ay nangangako na mailalabas ng committee ang lahat ng buong katotohanan tungkol sa nuclear energy,” he added. (“I, as the elected chairman of the newly created special committee on nuclear energy, promise that the committee will bring out all the truth about nuclear energy.”)

With the creation of the special committee, the House amended the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy. It will only handle “matters directly and principally relating to the exploration, development, utilization, or conservation” of traditional, alternative, and renewable energy. The establishment of this new panel also falls in line with President Marcos’ position to re-evaluate the government’s strategy on nuclear power, as expressed in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Sources: CNN PH, BusinessMirror