MANILA, Philippines – Pinirmahan ng Estados Unidos at Pilipinas nitong Biyernes, Nobyembre 17, ang landmark deal na magpapahintulot sa Washington na mag-export ng nuclear technology at mga materyales sa Manila, para sa pag-aaral sa nuclear power sa hakbang na mapalakas ang energy independence ng bansa.
Ang “123 Agreement,” na pinirmahan nina Philippine Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla at US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, ay magbibigay ng legal framework para sa civil at nuclear-related investments sa bansa. Partikular na rito ang nuclear power.
“We would be more happy to pursue this path with the United States as one of our partners,” sinabi ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., na sumaksi sa pirmahan.
“The signing of the Philippines-United States Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy or the 123 Agreement is the first major step in this major regard, taking our cooperation on capacity building further and actually opening the doors for US companies to invest and participate in nuclear power projects in the country,” dagdag pa ng Pangulo.
Ang pagpirma ay naganap kasabay ng Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ng US Embassy sa Manila na mapalalakas ng naturang kasunduan ang kooperasyon ng dalawang bansa sa clean energy security at palakasin din ang alyansa ng mga ito.
Dagdag pa, ang agreement “lays out a comprehensive framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation between the Philippines and United States based on a mutual commitment to nuclear nonproliferation and is required by U.S. law to allow for the transfer of nuclear equipment and material for peaceful uses.”
“I look forward to seeing this agreement in action in the years to come. Nuclear energy is one area where we can show that the Philippines-US alliance and partnership truly works, for our peoples, our economies and the environment,” sinabi naman ni Marcos.
Matatandaan na sa kauna-unahang State of the Nation Address (SONA) ng Pangulo noong nakaraang taon, sinabi niya na nais nitong magkaroon ng nuclear energy bilang bahagi ng power mix ng bansa.
“I believe it is time to re-examine our strategy towards building nuclear power plants in the Philippines,” pahayag ni Marcos noong Hulyo.
“At present, our demand for energy far exceeds our reliable supply. We must increase the level of energy production… We must look at every possible option that would be appropriate for the Philippine situation,” dagdag pa niya.
Sa state visit ni Marcos sa Washington noong Mayo, nakipagkita siya sa mga opisyal ng Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, isang US-based firm global leader at vertical integrator ng nuclear technologies at mga serbisyo.
“Our search for new power sources should always be with an eye to improving the energy supply mix between traditional and renewable sources,” ani Marcos kasabay ng SONA.
Bukas naman para sa Philippine Nuclear Research Institute ang civil nuclear cooperation talks sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos. RNT/JGC
