Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Mark Cojuangco said the municipality of Labrador, Pangasinan is open to hosting a modern nuclear power facility. He even described the area as an ideal location for clean and reliable energy development.

Speaking during a town hall meeting organized in partnership with the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), Cojuangco said Labrador’s location along Lingayen Gulf and the openness of its residents make it a promising candidate site for future nuclear projects.

He said nuclear power could significantly lower electricity costs to around PHP5 per kilowatt-hour or even provide free power for local residents under the right framework.

“We need to make nuclear energy work for the people,” Cojuangco said. “Labrador is a good place to start.”

Cojuangco cited the 2024 Social Weather Stations (SWS) Survey on Nuclear Energy, which showed strong national support for nuclear development, including in Bataan, home to the mothballed Philippine Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP-1). He noted that the Department of Energy’s delay in releasing the survey results should not overshadow the public’s growing acce

ptance of nuclear power.

He added that the PNPP-1 site in Morong, Bataan could still host three additional reactors totaling 3,920 megawatts (MW), leveraging existing infrastructure such as the Nuclear Village in Bagac and the CBK pumped storage facility to fund new projects valued at around USD2 billion.

PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla expressed support for the initiative, calling nuclear power one of the cleanest, cheapest, and most reliable energy sources that can reduce emissions and drive industrial growth.

Labrador Mayor Noel Uson said the town is ready to welcome investment in nuclear technology, noting its potential to create jobs, boost local infrastructure, and improve livelihoods.

The town hall also coincided with the Stand Up for Nuclear 2025 celebration, a global movement that promotes nucle

ar energy awareness and public education. Local advocacy group Alpas Pinas, led by Convenor Gayle Certeza, joined the event to highlight grassroots enthusiasm for nuclear energy and its role in sustainable national progress.

Cojuangco, one of the principal authors of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilAtom) Act, said the new law ensures strict regulation and oversight while enabling responsible nuclear development.

“We finally have the legal framework we need,” he said. “Now it’s about implementing it well and preparing communities to be part of this future.”

Do you think local governments should take a more active role in hosting future nuclear energy projects in the Philippines?

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