MANILA, Philippines (Mar 2026) — A lawmaker pushing for nuclear energy in the Philippines is taking his advocacy to an unusual audience: the Catholic Church.
Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Mark O. Cojuangco recently sat down with Bishop Samuel Agcaracar of the Diocese of San Jose in Nueva Ecija for a dialogue on the role nuclear energy could play in driving economic growth in the country.
The meeting reflects Cojuangco’s ongoing effort to build broad support for nuclear power — not just in legislative chambers, but among influential institutions that shape public opinion at the community level.
His core argument is economic. Nuclear energy, he says, could cut electricity costs in half — a reduction that would put more money in Filipino households and make the country more attractive to foreign investors.
“With nuclear energy, we can lower the cost of electricity to half of what we usually pay,” Cojuangco said. “This means that Filipino families will have more disposable income for other essentials like food and education. Furthermore, lower electricity rates will spur economic growth because it will make the country more attractive to foreign investors. An increase in economic activity means more jobs and better lives for our people.”
The Philippines has been revisiting the prospect of nuclear energy in recent years as electricity rates remain among the highest in Southeast Asia. Cojuangco has been one of the most vocal proponents of the shift, and dialogues like the one with Bishop Agcaracar suggest the conversation is moving beyond policy circles and into the broader public sphere.
