US Vice President Kamala Harris' recent visit may just be the turning point for the country's energy security as nuclear power was a key agenda with emphasis on a technology that will assure clean and safe power generation.
The US State Department's fact sheet on the visit said among Harris' key objectives in her visit was the 123 Agreement Negotiations for Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation.
The agreement will pave the way for expanded cooperation on "zero-emission energy and nonproliferation priorities."
Under US law, the agreement is required to provide the legal basis for US exports of nuclear equipment and material to the Philippines.
The agreement derived its name from Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954 which serves as the legal framework for the development, regulation, and disposal of nuclear materials and facilities in the United States.
The provision regulates the transfer of nuclear material originating in the United States and the export of reactors, critical reactor components, and reactor fuel.
The first Section 123 agreement was to assist Turkey with nuclear research. By 1967, the United States had 34 agreements in force — two-thirds of which were focused strictly on research. Today, the agreement covers 191 countries.
The agreement being negotiated with the Philippines is extensive and covers not only the supply of fuel and technology but also climate goals, as well as support to workers and businesses in both countries.
Sadly, the hubristic mob is again making noise even before the details of the agreement are revealed.
The noisemakers expectedly raised the specter of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant built during the term of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos' father which was supposedly the start of a long-term strategy for energy security.
This early, the groups, which are yearning for the lucrative Western financing and are scanning the horizon for criticisms to throw at BBM, are planning protest rallies anchored on the nuclear shift, dusting off the anti-BNPP protest strategy.
One group even concluded that nuclear energy is not welcome and will not work as an energy source in the Philippines.
The US is now undergoing a renewable energy transition but is encouraging the Philippines to "move backward into adapting an old, issue-ridden technology" of nuclear energy.
Negotiations with the US regarding the use of nuclear technology began in earnest in the previous administration of President Rodrigo Duterte who issued an Executive Order to include nuclear technology in the energy mix.
Then Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi aimed for the deployment of small modular reactors to kick off the country's nuclear program.
"As the years went by, with the pandemic further revealing the vulnerability of energy sources, it became more urgent for us to integrate nuclear into our energy mix as it would be highly beneficial for our country," Cusi said.
Immense political will is now required to prevent a repeat of the conceited mob from again prevailing and stopping the country's march to progress.
Had it not been for the arrogance of the pompous few, Filipinos would be enjoying an ample and cheap source of electricity and with it, a strong inflow of investments.