MAKATI CITY, Philippines (July 2026) — Rolling blackouts and sky-high electricity costs could become a thing of the past if the country successfully adds nuclear power to the national grid.
Pangasinan second District Representative Mark O. Cojuangco recently wrapped up a high-level mission to the United States to explore how civil nuclear energy can help meet the growing power demands of Pinoys. As the chairperson of the Special Committee on Nuclear Energy, Cojuangco led a delegation to meet with American government officials and industry leaders to discuss safety, financing, and the latest reactor technologies.
Learning from the experts
The group toured several major facilities, including the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) deployment site and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. These visits were part of the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program, which aims to help countries build safe and secure nuclear programs.
Cojuangco also met with Representative Ami Bera of California to discuss how the two nations can cooperate on legislative frameworks for nuclear tech. The delegation even sat down with U.S. Department of Energy undersecretary Kyle Hausveit to talk about keeping energy affordable and reliable through government collaboration.
A clean energy future
For the group Alpas Pinas, this trip is a major step toward a cleaner energy future. Gayle Certeza, the organization’s lead convenor, said the engagement lays the groundwork for future partnerships that could finally bring nuclear energy to the Philippines. The group has been advocating for the use of nuclear power as a steady, carbon-free alternative to traditional fuels.
This push is not just about talks; it is about policy too. Cojuangco is currently backing House Bill 8567, a new measure that seeks to officially include nuclear energy in the national electricity sector. This follows the recent passage of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilAtom) Bill, which sets up the rules for how nuclear plants would be governed.
While concerns about safety still linger for many, supporters argue that reviving projects like the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant or investing in modern SMRs could give the Philippines the energy security it needs to keep the lights on and the economy moving.
