Six officers of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have voiced strong opposition to a proposed nuclear power plant in western Pangasinan, citing safety, environmental, and moral concerns.
In a joint statement, church leaders from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan and its suffragan dioceses warned that the area’s proximity to the East Zambales Fault Line makes any nuclear facility an “unacceptable risk.”
The statement was signed by Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan and Auxiliary Bishop Fidelis Layog, along with Bishops Daniel Presto of San Fernando, La Union; Napoleon Sipalay of Alaminos; and Jacinto Jose of Urdaneta. It was also supported by Bishop Prudencio Andaya of Cabanatuan and Fr. Getty Ferrer, diocesan administrator of San Jose, Nueva Ecija.
“Not in Pangasinan! Not anywhere else!” the bishops said, urging government officials and the public to place the protection of life and the common good above economic or corporate interests.
The church leaders cited lessons from Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, saying it demonstrated the “insoluble dangers” of nuclear energy and its capacity to cause irreversible damage to human life, livelihoods, and the environment.
Guided by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, the bishops emphasized prudence, intergenerational responsibility, and the need to shift toward renewable energy sources to safeguard future generations.
They also stressed the long-term danger posed by radioactive waste, noting that there is no secure solution for materials that remain hazardous for thousands of years.
Instead of nuclear power, the bishops called for greater investment in renewable energy, such as solar and wind, which they described as safer and more sustainable options.
“We are blessed with an abundance of renewable energy potential,” the statement said. “The solution is not in building dangerous technologies that bring profit to private corporations but put our people in harm’s way.”
Echoing the position of Japanese bishops, the CBCP leaders said the potential consequences of a nuclear accident far outweigh any short-term benefits, underscoring their call to prioritize the protection of all life.
