Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Congressman Mark O. Cojuangco, a leading advocate for nuclear energy and author of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilAtom) Bill, engaged in a series of discussions with government and industry representatives at the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Delegation in the United States.
The landmark engagement focused on strengthening the relationship between the Philippines and the United States in civil nuclear energy cooperation, reflecting their shared interest in nuclear energy. As the call for the inclusion of nuclear power to be included in the country’s energy mix, the meeting highlighted discussions on financing mechanisms, safety regulations and best practices for civil nuclear power programs.
Throughout the delegation, both sides exchanged views on how civil nuclear energy cooperation could support the Philippines’ efforts to diversify its energy mix while meeting growing electricity demand. Cojuangco’s US visit also included industry discussions with nuclear and research institutions, deepening engagements with stakeholders and forging partnerships to support the country’s nuclear energy goals.
Cojuangco, alongside other members of the House of Representatives, toured prominent US nuclear energy facilities and research institutions to meet nuclear industry officials, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority’s SMR deployment site, Kairos Power, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the East Tennessee Economic Council, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Led by Cojuangco, the delegation joined California 6th District Representative Congressman Ami Bera during the visit to discuss legislative cooperation and applications of nuclear technology, then went to the US Department of Energy to speak with the department’s undersecretary Kyle Hausveit on energy security, affordability, reliability, and government collaboration.
“Our meeting with the United States provides a great opportunity to bring our nuclear energy vision to the table, and we are grateful to have conversations that align with the ongoing efforts of the Philippines and the US on nuclear energy development,” Cojuangco said.
The recent Philippine-US engagement contributed to the broader push of Alpas Pinas, a non-stock, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting nuclear energy as a clean and sustainable source of power, marking a significant step in advancing the country’s nuclear energy agenda. Alpas Pinas lead convenor Gayle Certeza stressed that the meeting laid out the groundwork for future collaboration on nuclear energy development.
“The Philippine-US engagement paves the way to future opportunities and meaningful partnerships in support of the country’s nuclear energy goals,” she said. “With Cong. Mark Cojuangco’s presence in the delegation, it makes a great start for our organization to continue amplifying for a well-informed conversation on nuclear energy, grounded in global best practices and collaboration.”
Amid growing interest in nuclear energy, its adoption in the Philippines continues to draw public concerns and misconceptions about nuclear safety. Thus, Alpas Pinas has consistently undertaken various initiatives to promote nuclear energy as cheap, clean yet reliable, including its call for reviving the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP) in Bataan as a potential source to intensify the Philippine energy mix.
Following the recently passed PhilAtom bill, Cojuangco is now pushing for approval of the new House Bill 8567, a proposed measure that seeks to include nuclear energy in the country’s electricity sector.