Balanga diocese gears for massive anti-nuke rally today

A huge anti-nuke rally is set to happen in Balanga this afternoon to protest the revival of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

In a communication sent to the Manila archdiocese Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas said the rally will start with three separate marches from various points of the province converging at the Balanga Cathedral at 3:30 p.m in time for the 4 p.m. Mass.

Youth and parish delegations from Northern Bataan will converge at Garcia Avenue in Balanga.

Parishes from the south and west of Bataan will assemble at the Pilar-Balanga boundary while the civil society groups will gather at Petron Gas Station.

Villegas will be the main presider during the Mass and will read his pastoral letter as his homily.

The bishop roughly estimates the march will gather close to 8,000 participants.

He said various environmental groups from Manila like Green Peace, Eco Waste Coalition and others, have sent their notice of participation.

Likewise, the entire clergy and religious of Balanga diocese will be present during the protest rally.

Local officials such as the Governor and some mayors have also confirmed their attendance, Villegas said.

Among those expected to speak during the rally after the Mass are Msgr. Tony Dumaual, who led the protest against BNPP as Morong parish priest in the 1970s, Dr. Nicanor Perlas, who headed the presidential Commission to investigate the safety standards of the nuclear plant in the late 1980s, and a youth leader.

The rally will be capped with a prayer to Our Lady of the Pillar, patroness of Morong, and the singing of Bayan Ko.

INTERFAITH COMMUNITY AGAINST BNPP REVIVAL

The Interfaith community has also raised its voice in opposition against the revival of the mothballed nuclear plant.

Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, who co-chairs the Ecumenical Bishops Forum, said in a statement, the project does not only pose danger to the environment and lives of the people but also a major source of corruption even during the time of Pres. Marcos.

“It is a known fact that this project was full of anomalies and was a source of corruption during the time of Pres. Marcos. The Filipino people [were] then saddled with paying for this monstrosity for close to two decades,” the statement read.

Iñiguez said the revival of the project is very questionable and immoral in the light of serious defects on the safety of the plant as research studies have shown.

The BNPP was built on an earthquake fault and near three active volcanoes: Mt. Natib, Mt. Pinatubo and Mt. Mariveles.

Bro. Gilbert Billena, O.Carm., spokesperson of Interfaith Justice and Peace Network, also denounced the move to revive the plant saying resuscitating it is an act of deception to the Filipino people.

“Reviving the said project is tantamount to an act of deception to the Filipino people who are directly paying the millions of dollars of loans and interest payments through taxes,” he said in a statement.

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) has likewise added its voice in calling for Congress to stop the commissioning of the nuclear power plant.

The immediate Rehabilitation, Commission and Operation of BBNPP, also known as HB 4631 was sponsored by Congressman Mark Cojuangco.

The bill is set to be deliberated on February 24 in a third meeting by the Congress’ Committee on Appropriations.