The small municipality of Labrador in Pangasinan has invited the development of a modern nuclear facility, marking a rare, community-driven declaration of consent that could serve as a national template for the Philippines’ future energy strategy.
About 65 percent of registered voters in the town, which has fewer than 30,000 residents, signed a notarized petition inviting the government or private companies to build a nuclear power plant there.
The decision was the central focus of the “Stand Up for Nuclear (SUFN) 2025” town hall meeting on Wednesday, organized by the non-stock, non-profit organization Alpas Pinas.
The decision is rooted in the urgency to address the Philippines’ chronic issue of rising electricity costs. A recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report indicates that 94.8 percent of Filipino households are connected to the grid, but for millions, surging bills strain incomes and erode economic opportunities.
Pangasinan Second District Rep. Mark Cojuangco, a staunch nuclear advocate and principal author of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilAtom) Law, recalled challenging the local community to formally express its desire to host the plant.
“I challenged them [citizens of Labrador], I said if this is what they want, write to the government that you will invite companies or the government to build a nuclear plant here in Labrador,” Cojuangco said.
Mayor Noel Uson expressed full support for the project, while stressing prudence. “We are in full support of nuclear energy utilization,” Uson said,
“But safety and security will always come first,” he said.
Vice Mayor Melchora Yaneza said strict oversight and preparedness would be key to earning public trust.
A major draw for the community is the anticipated economic benefit. Cojuangco said a 1,000-megawatt plant is valued at about $4 billion, with as much as 60 percent to 65 percent of spending expected to circulate through local civil works and supply chains.
He projected that, with the right framework, nuclear energy could provide power at P5 per kilowatt-hour, or even free for local households under certain arrangements.
“Do you think that with electricity that cheap, investors wouldn’t flock to Labrador to build all sorts of businesses, livelihoods, and industries? And who would benefit from permanent jobs, wouldn’t it be you as well?” Cojuangco asked the residents.
Cojuangco also addressed safety concerns, citing California’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which was built to withstand severe seismic forces—a relevant example for the Philippines, which lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
He assured attendees that waste management would follow global benchmarks, such as deep geological repositories, backed by decades of research from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and regulated by the upcoming PhilAtom Law.
Labrador’s initiative has drawn national attention, aligning with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) plans to explore nuclear options, including the potential rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and new feasibility studies.
A recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by the DOE found that 70 percent of Filipinos now support or are open to nuclear energy, a significant rise in acceptance.
Alpas Pinas lead convenor Gayle Certeza called Labrador’s decision a turning point. “This is a town that chose nuclear energy not out of fear or politics, but hope. You are the ones putting the Philippines on the map of nuclear energy,” Certeza said.
