The effort towards a nuclear-powered Philippines moved forward a bit more as the Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed that it has been assessing potential sites for future nuclear power plants, according to a business news report by the Manila Bulletin.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Department of Energy (DOE) is assessing various sites for future nuclear power plants, including possible locations in the western regions of the Philippines.
In a recent ambush interview, DOE Undersecretary Sharon Garin shared that while these potential sites are still being evaluated against specific criteria, several areas across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have already been identified as possibilities for nuclear development.
“We have evaluated sites, but that’s still not final; it’s like [the DOE is] practicing [its] criteria,” she told reporters.
“So we assess, for example, [in] Bataan [province, the municipalities of] Morong [and] Mariveles. We’ve also assessed somewhere in Bulacan, [and] in Batangas.”
While these provincial areas already have large populations, Garin is also hopeful about the possibility of building other nuclear-related infrastructures, such as data centers, in the future.
“We’ve also assessed down south. There’s a lot—Masbate, Palawan, we’ve also gone there—some of them qualify because there [are] metrics.”
She also said that Western Visayas could be a viable location for hosting nuclear facilities, along with other regional areas that are less likely to be affected by tsunamis.
“Palawan is really one of the most stable [in terms of geology]. The problem [there] is the grid—it’s not connected.”
According to Garin, the DOE is closely looking at areas that are far from fault lines and volcanoes.
She emphasized, however, that these are not confirmed sites for development, adding that, “I don’t want to announce what the specific areas have passed because it might cause some anxiety among people.”
The Energy Undersecretary assured that the government is making significant progress in its preparations, including conducting surveys, developing frameworks, and forming key partnerships, such as the 123 Agreement with the United States (US). She expressed optimism that once legal and regulatory requirements are finalized, the country will be ready to begin issuing construction licenses by 2026.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the assessment by the government for potential nuclear power sites will be completed soon and pave the way for actual construction?
The Philippines moved some steps forward into a nuclear-powered future as the United States-Philippines Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (also referred to as the 123 Agreement) came into force recently, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. This means that the legal framework for potential nuclear projects with American providers has been laid down. It is recalled that the 123 Agreement has been progressing since last year.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The United States-Philippines Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, or the 123 Agreement, entered into force on July 2, the US Department of State’s Office of the Spokesperson announced on Tuesday (Manila time).
Signed in November last year, the 123 Agreement will establish a legal framework that allows the export of nuclear fuel, reactors, equipment, and special nuclear material from the US to the Philippines.
The agreement lays the legal framework for potential nuclear power projects with US providers and aims to facilitate Philippine-US cooperation in the safe and secure use of nuclear energy, taking into full account the standards and safeguards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as in accordance with respective national laws, international agreements, and regulations.
Upon entry into force, the 123 Agreement will allow the transfer of information, nuclear material, equipment, and components directly between the Philippines and the US or through persons authorized by their respective authorities to engage in transfer activities, which will support potential nuclear power projects with US providers.
It will also pave the way for streamlining the licensing requirements for the private sector with respect to investments in nuclear-related intangible transfers of technology.
“Energy security is an increasingly critical global challenge requiring deliberate collaborative efforts, and together, our two countries can make a significant contribution to our shared clean energy goals,” the US Department of State said.
Nuclear energy, it said, could help achieve these global climate change and energy security targets.
The US Department of State said the agreement is part of its efforts to develop the Philippines’ civil nuclear sector.
“Creating a safe, secure, and modern sector requires a skilled workforce, robust regulations, and strong commercial partnerships. Our government is committed to working with the Philippines to advance each of these areas and we look forward to further building our partnership together,” the US Department of State said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier said the administration would be glad to pursue nuclear energy as part of the country’s energy mix by 2032 through the partnership forged with American providers.
His administration seeks to increase the country’s renewable energy mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that nuclear power will be more beneficial for the Filipino people and the national economy than solar and wind power? Are you aware that solar and wind power will cost too much money to create abundant energy for the Philippines?
If the Philippines is to keep growing economically in the long-term, it needs to have abundant energy and that makes nuclear power essential (for related posts, click here, here, here and here). That being said, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) recently stated that nuclear power can prevent power shortages in the country, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), on Tuesday, May 7, said nuclear energy sources can help prevent energy shortages in the Philippines due to its “capacity factor” and “energy density.”
In a PTV interview, PNRI Executive Director Carlo Arcilla said nuclear power has two factors—energy density and capacity.
Energy density means that even a tiny amount of nuclear fuel, about the size of a finger, contains an incredible amount of energy, he said.
“If you had several tons of coal, it’s that powerful. It’s a very, very concentrated power,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Arcilla cited the second factor, “capacity factor,” explaining that the availability of a nuclear plant is approximately 90 percent of the time.
“When you’re running a nuclear plant, it’s reliably available about 90 percent of the time, regardless of the weather,” he said.
He further explained this by citing the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant as an example, along with other power plants built in the 1980s.
“Similar plants in Slovenia, South Korea, and Brazil have been in operation for 40 years and are even being relicensed for another 20 years,” he said.
“These plants can run for an impressive 18 months straight without needing to refuel. The amount of fuel they require is roughly equivalent to what you’d put in a jeep, and they keep running continuously,” he added.
The PNRI official then emphasized that nuclear energy production produces no emissions, including no carbon dioxide. The cost of running such a plant is estimated to be around 30 million dollars.
If that were compared to a coal plant running for 18 months at 620 megawatts (MW), it would be the same.
“The amount of coal needed would fill 50 Panamax ships. Each Panamax ship carries 50,000 tons. That’s 50 of them. Not to mention the CO2 (carbon dioxide). The cost of importing that coal would be around 800 million US dollars,” he explained
The PNRI is a research and development institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
Furthermore, Arcilla pointed out that even though nuclear power plants are initially costly to build, they have a lifespan of up to 80 years.
“America, for example, has 94 operating nuclear plants, average age, 60 years. Supplying 20 percent of America’s energy. Many of them don’t even know they have nuclear,” he said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that nuclear power is the key to ensuring abundant amounts of energy that the Philippines will need to for economic growth as well as the needs of the people? Are members of your local community still living with a fear of nuclear power?
Recently the administration of Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., and top officials of the Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC) met in Washington, D.C., and discussed the progress of the company’s nuclear energy investment plan in the country, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday (Manila time) hailed the developments in the planned nuclear energy investment of Washington-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC) in the Philippines.
Marcos met with USNC’s top executives, led by its chief executive officer Francesco Venmeri, in the United States (US) to discuss the progress in the firm’s commitment to bring a reliable and clean energy source to the Philippines.
“We are delighted to share the progress of our ongoing collaboration with Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. since our inaugural meeting in 2023. Their investment in Micro Modular Reactors (MMRs) promises a reliable and clean energy solution for the country,” Marcos said in a Facebook post after his meeting with USNC officials.
“This initiative ensures greater energy security, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, and holds the promise of substantial economic gains for the Filipino people.”
During the meeting with USNC executives, Energy Secretary Rafael Lotilla briefed Marcos about the ongoing legislative measures in Congress that would provide the legal framework for the company’s planned investment and operation in the Philippines.
Lotilla told Marcos that the regulatory framework has been passed by the House of Representatives.
On Nov. 22, 2023, the House approved House Bill 9293, or the “Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, ” and last March 4, it also approved HB 9876 or the “Philippine Nuclear Liability Act.”
Marcos expressed hope that the bill gets passed in the Senate so that the necessary legal requirements could be completed soon to commence the project.
“You’re done already in the House. Okay. So, the elements that need to be there, the provisions that need to be (included), we can do in the Senate and then there’s one of course, is the bicam down the road. So, that would be the process from the government side,” the President said during the meeting.
“We spoke about this before. We’re going to go ahead with the program, with (the) project.”
Marcos’ meeting with USNC officials is a follow-up of their initial meeting in the US in May 2023, followed by the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on nuclear cooperation in Nov. 2023, and the firm’s participation in the US Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines in March 2024.
The USNC is a global leader and vertical integrator of nuclear technologies and services. Its major initiatives include the MMR, Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated (FCM) nuclear fuel, and nuclear power and propulsion technologies for space exploration.
The MMR is a fourth-generation nuclear energy system that delivers safe, zero-carbon, cost-effective electricity and heat to utilities, industry, and remote communities.
This will be USNC’s first investment in the country and it partnered with Meralco for an MMR study.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that safe and secure nuclear energy in the Philippines will be realized before the decade ends? Are people in your local community knowledgeable about the potential benefits of nuclear energy?
“I believe it is time to re-examine our strategy towards building nuclear power plants in the Philippines,” Marcos said in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Marcos, however, did not mention the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), a project during his late father Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s regime which has been mothballed for more than three decades.
In 1976, Marcos Sr. ordered the construction of the $2.3-billion BNPP, but it was shelved after three years due to safety concerns.
The Duterte administration had pegged the cost of reviving the BNPP at around $1 billion.
The President, instead, said that “there have been new technologies developed that allow smaller scale modular nuclear plants and other derivations thereof.”
Nevertheless, Marcos said the Philippines will comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations for nuclear power plants “as they have been strengthened after Fukushima.”
The President said that public-private partnerships will play a role in realizing the goal of adopting nuclear power.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Tuesday he will fully support the plan of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to explore the country’s potentials on nuclear energy as a cheap and reliable source.
Marcos said in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday that if the country wants to attract investors, both local and foreign, energy-level production must be increased.
“Why not? We are one of the few countries that have not looked at the nuclear option in Southeast Asia. The countries that are developing nuclear power in Asia — Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, even Singapore, are looking at the nuclear option, smaller nuclear power plants, and even Myanmar. We’re already left behind,” Zubiri said in an interview with a news channel.
Despite being a renewable energy advocate, as evidenced by the Renewable Energy Act which he authored, Zubiri admitted that there are not enough efforts to produce the energy requirement the country needs over the next six years.
“If you want to have an 8-percent GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate, we better have an energy sector that is robust, that can deliver the power the different industries need to be able to power other programs and projects,” he said.
A nuclear power plant, Zubiri said, might take six years to develop starting from its infancy, but can deliver thousands of megawatts from a single plant.
He said the facility must be built right, strong enough to withstand calamities, and away from earthquake faults.
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, a known environmentalist, said she is open to exploring the possibility of nuclear energy but it must be considered “clean energy”.
“I may not be an expert in nuclear energy. I am open to hearing discussions and consultations with various stakeholders and experts in science on nuclear energy. I have read that nuclear energy is said to be clean. However, what about the nuclear waste? I am interested to know how it will be handled. At the same time, the safety measures,” she said.
Senator Francis Tolentino is likewise in favor of nuclear energy, which he learned has zero emission.
The French government is keen to help the Philippines develop its nuclear power program as the Marcos administration looks for other reliable sources of energy.
French Ambassador Michèle Boccoz said the embassy has met with some of the Cabinet members and nuclear power was listed among the key areas Paris and Manila could cooperate on.
“(T)here’s obviously an interest. As I said, we have an experience and expertise in many different sectors of renewable energy, including the nuclear sector,” Boccoz said at a reception in Makati City on Tuesday.
She said working on small modular reactors is “probably much more realistic” than reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.
“I think that this is a thing of the past because the technologies have evolved so much that it wouldn’t really make sense to work to build this kind of project and it’s probably too big and it probably needs too much of the grid to be operational,” she added.
“So having a sort of more modular systems is probably much more realistic and also in terms of the terrain here and the systemic risks and others. These are much smaller units that can be much more easily protected.”
Boccoz, meanwhile, clarified that talks are still in the “very early stages” as Manila has to put in place a framework first.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about the renewed national interest about nuclear power? Are the climate change extremists and modern day Leftists still lying to you that nuclear power is bad while unreliable energy forms like solar and wind power are better? Are you willing to give nuclear power in the Philippines a chance?
While most of the country has been focused on the May 9 General Elections (national and local levels) as people will elect a new President who will lead the country for the next six years, the Philippines has a huge delegation gradually arriving in Vietnam for the 31st Southeast Asian Games (AKA the 31st SEA Games, SEA Games 31 and Hanoi 2021), according to an article published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). While the opening ceremony of the SEA Games has been set to happen on May 12, there are already sports events that were held days ahead of the said ceremony. The Philippine Team, which has a financial support of over P200 million, will start very soon its quest for gold while adjusting themselves to the new environment, culture and society there in Vietnam.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA article. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine contingent for the 31st Southeast Asian Games is scheduled to check in on Tuesday with the Philippine Sports Commission on hand to facilitate their arrival and have them comfortably settled two days before the opening ceremony of the 11-nation sportsfest.
A large wave of athletes led by 2019 SEA Games multiple medalist and world champion gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo will set foot here together with the highly admired women’s volleyball team featuring its top celebrities Alyssa Valdez, Aby Maraño and Jaja Santiago.
Yulo, who brought along his Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya, won two gold medals and five silvers in men’s artistic gymnastics back in Manila 2019 and is expected to deliver again for Team Philippines.
“We are ready to receive our athletes and coaches and extend the assistance they need once they arrive here. They have to be free of distractions so they can focus on their respective competitions ahead,” said PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, the chef de mission of Team Philippines.
Women’s volleyball and men’s volleyball have a total headcount of 38 players and officials while gymnastics has 22 athletes and coaches comprising the 193 members of the delegation set to arrive on Tuesday.
Filipino athletes and officials from badminton (19), bodybuilding (13), fencing (28), table tennis (17), tennis (12), athletics (8), wushu (17), and one swimmer will likewise depart from Manila on the same day along with the PSC medical team (6) and members of the media (12).
Already settled in the Vietnamese capital and have moved to their respective billeting areas are athletes from kickboxing, handball, men’s and women’s football, rowing, chess, kurash, pencak silat, men’s 3×3 basketball, women’s basketball, golf, and triathlon/duathlon.
The main bulk of track and field athletes and officials (50) will be here on Wednesday, including pole vault Asian record holder Ernest John Obiena.
The Philippine Team for triathlon and duathlon at the airport before they departed to Vietnam. (photo source – Philippine Sports Commission Facebook page)
To know more about what kind of competitors Team Philippines will face in the SEA Games triathlon and duathlon events, check out my recent post related to the highly detailed interview with the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA). To find out who exactly are the Southeast Asian triathletes and duathletes in the men’s triathlon, women’s triathlon, men’s duathlon and women’s duathlon, check out the SEA Games pages at Triathlon.org which now have official lists of starters for public viewing.
Considering what is at stake and what kind of competitors the Philippine delegation will face at the SEA Games, I urge you to pray to our Lord for victories to be achieved by our nation’s finest athletes (note: each of them went through qualification processes in their respective teams and sports) and that they (along with their coaches) will be rewarded abundantly. We should not believe on luck because we have the victory of Lord Jesus to believe in and God is the definitive source and provider of blessings, breakthroughs and miracles that we must believe in. To pray to the Lord, be in your room with the door shut and pray in tongues to Him with all your heart. Also be thankful to Him wholeheartedly.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: How excited are you right now with the Philippines’ SEA Games campaign? What is the one sports event of the SEA Games you are excited for?
If you are looking for good news and details that can help deepen your faith in the Lord, check out the recent CBN News story about a North Carolina-based church that paid to fill the fuel tanks of hundreds of customers who lined up at the gas stations. Considering how expensive gas is right now, the anointed move by Kingdom City Church is a blessing to those who badly need gas at a time when they are struggling financially. To be clear, Kingdom City Church has been doing this special thing for years.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the CBN News report. Some parts in boldface…
With painfully high gas prices still hurting American families nationwide, churches across the country have partnered with gas stations to help alleviate the burden with either discounted or free fuel.
Kingdom City Church in Charlotte, North Carolina recently took part in helping to fill the tanks of those in need.
“At the end of the day, it’s a blessing to be a blessing to God’s people,” Pastor Brian Carn told CBN News’ The PrayerLink.
He explained that his church has been doing a gas outreach for several years, but with the rising cost of goods, this year’s event was more significant.
“I believe that the life of a Christian should be a life that is overflowing with compassion,” he shared. “We were just faithfully doing it over the last couple of years and it actually came in handy this year in a powerful way.”
More than 300 people received free gas, along with grocery vouchers and gift cards.
“People were actually running out of gas, coming to the gas station,” Carn said of the event that took place in late March. “We were having to push their cars to the gas station, but to be able to use that as a tool to get people saved, pray for people, get people healed and delivered.”
Members of Kingdom City Church pumped gas for drivers so they could sit in their cars and receive ministry and prayer.
“I drove about 25 minutes to get over here to get a tank of gas,” said one driver. “Everyone was pleasant and I really appreciate everything you guys have done for me and everyone out here today.”
“Once we got here you feel the Holy Spirit around us…you can feel His Spirit just move you,” another driver told the church. “Speaking to people prior to getting the gas, praying with people…it’s earth-shaking.”
Pastor Carn personally financed the entire event, giving away $10,000 worth of fuel. He said he wanted to pour back into the community and sow a seed.
“I wanted to make it my business to sow into those who come. You know a lot of times as the church we do a lot of receiving, but not much pouring back into the people,” he explained, “so I wanted to make it my business to sow a seed into the lives of people all over the city of Charlotte so that God could use me as a conduit to let them know that God cares about your tank as much as he cares about your pocket and your heart.”
The above article ended quoting Pastor Carn: “You know Jesus fed them first and then ministered to them. So that was our fish and the loaves.”
Now, check out the related CBN News video below. Watch how caring Kingdom City Church is to the people who need gas…
What this news story should remind you is that when you are blessed by the Lord, do not forget to be a blessing to others. Never forget that God blesses the faithful abundantly! Learn from the following holy scriptures below…
“Your lives light up the world. For how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 (TPT)
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:10-12 (NKJV)
Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything —every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do. Just as the Scriptures say about the one who trusts in him: Because he has sown extravagantly and given to the poor, his kindness and generous deeds will never be forgotten. This generous God who supplies abundant seed for the farmer, which becomes bread for our meals, is even more extravagant toward you. First he supplies every need, plus more. Then he multiplies the seed as you sow it, so that the harvest of your generosity will grow. You will be abundantly enriched in every way as you give generously on every occasion, for when we take your gifts to those in need, it causes many to give thanks to God.
2 Corinthians 9:8-11 (TPT)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
For those who are wondering what Kingdom City Church is, check out the excerpt of their history from their website posted below…
Kingdom City Church (KCC) is a national ministry founded in September 2016 by Senior Pastor, Brian Carn, along with the ministry assistance of our former Associate Senior Pastors. KCC is currently located in Charlotte, North Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; Houston, Texas; and soon to be all over the world! With only a word from the Lord, “Move to Charlotte!” Prophet Carn spoke to the people of God concerning this great assignment the Lord had given him. It was the beginning of a ministry who was hungry for a move of God like never before! As we launched our first service in Charlotte, NC on Sunday, September 4, 2016, we knew God was beginning something that would change the lives of many for years to come. With an extremely packed sanctuary every week, the power of God flowed through the place from beginning to end, compelling men and women to be saved and have a deeper encounter with God.
Praise and thank the Lord for Kingdom City Church blessing so many people with their latest gas outreach! Through them, God’s love, care and blessing were passed on to others!
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the other economic and geopolitical developments related to it caused oil prices to spike. Here in the Philippines, the latest round of fuel price hikes resulted in diesel averaging around P65 per liter while unleaded gasoline is now past the P70/liter mark. Inevitably, the spike in crude oil prices will lead to a series of increases on food, transportation, delivery services, electricity and more.
Inflation really affects everyone and as far as the Philippines is concerned, the timing is really bad because Metro Manila and other parts of the country under Alert Level 1 status is experiencing a revival of commerce and increased number of people moving around. Along the way, the national average of new COVID-19 cases has been averaging in the hundreds the past several days.
Times like these, major decisions on ensuring abundant, clean and affordable energy for the Philippines are needed. In relation to this, President Rodrigo Duterte recently signed a major executive order (EO) that includes nuclear power for the country’s energy mix, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA report. Some parts in boldface…
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Executive Order (EO) 164 that now includes the potential of nuclear power in the country’s energy mix.
Released on Thursday, EO 164 was signed by the Chief Executive last February 28.
“This policy is the start of the national nuclear power program,” said Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza Jr. in a press conference.
Under the new policy, it stated that the country “shall ensure the peaceful use of nuclear technology anchored on critical tenets of public safety, national security, energy self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability”.
Duterte issued the policy following the recommendation of the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), which conducted a pre-feasibility study and public consultation on the matter.
Through EO 164, the Chief Executive has recognized that nuclear power can be a reliable, cost-competitive, and environment-friendly source of energy based on the experience of highly developed countries.
“For the country to achieve its sustained growth targets, it must ensure that it has a reliable, secure, sustainable, quality and affordable electricity supply, including sufficient reserve to guarantee that there will be no disruptions in the power supply,” the policy read.
It added the use of nuclear energy will address the increasing demand for clean energy, rising by 4.4 percent annually, or an additional capacity of 68 gigawatts by 2040.
The EO still included the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in the national nuclear program, but other nuclear power installations will be pursued.
The BNPP was the only nuclear power plant in the region during the 1980s, as the Philippines was one of the first Southeast Asian countries to embark on a nuclear energy program.
However, the project was mothballed because of corruption allegations and safety concerns on the use of nuclear energy.
A study conducted by Russia State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM) in 2017 said the rehabilitation of BNPP will require around USD3 billion to USD4 billion.
The public is also becoming more open to the potential of nuclear energy.
“(A) Public Perception Survey on Nuclear Energy in 2019 indicated that almost 79 percent of Filipinos expressed approval or acceptability of the possible use or rehabilitation of an existing nuclear power plant,” the EO said.
The above report ended stating that 65% (of those who took the survey) approved the construction of new nuclear power plants and 78% are open to learning more about nuclear energy.
Of course, there is still this long-lasting fear and paranoia about nuclear power being too dangerous for the Philippines to have. Nuclear-related disasters like the one in Fukushima (2011) and Chernobyl (1986) are still remembered and there are also lots of anti-nuclear activists who continue to make noise.
No matter what those climate change extremists, social justice warriors (SJWs), modern day socialists and anti-nuclear power activists say, nothing changes the fact that nuclear power is the answer to meet nations’ constant demand for energy that is also clear, abundant and cost efficient. Watch and learn from the videos below…
Going back to the executive order Duterte signed, Albay Representative Joey Salceda (who is the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee) and presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. support nuclear power gave their respective reactions (click here and here).
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about nuclear power as an added option for the Philippines energy mix? Are you still worried about nuclear power being too dangerous because the people who oppose it scared you? Are you able to tell if the anti-nuclear activists have been spreading lies and misinformation just to manipulate you to oppose nuclear power?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/
We all want the good life. In fact, we need the good life! As we live in the flesh in the middle of a very screwed-up world that has long been ravaged by Satan, it is clear that without God, without the Holy Spirit and without Lord Jesus, we cannot survive both physically and spiritually. Unbelief misled many people to believe they can survive and prosper on their own but ultimately, they end up being unhappy, lost and unsaved spiritually. For its part, religion (along with its traditions, rituals and idolatry) misled people into believing they are Christians when in fact they end up wasting their lives following a whole bunch of rules from many man-made doctrines (described as blessed sacraments) which ultimately keep them away from the Lord. Religion also misled people into believing the falsehood that being religious, idolatrous, traditional and ritual-oriented is the same as being faithful to the Lord.
As Christians led by faith, we all had to go through the process of conversion (getting born again in accordance to what Lord Jesus stated in John 3: 3), studying and living the Word of God (the Holy Bible), submitting to Him and establishing personal relationships with Him. We are His creations and there really is no other way apart from living in holiness and doing our responsibilities as Christians, as citizens of God’s Kingdom and as His children.
The Lord will not abandon us (refer to Jeremiah 29: 11) and He knows well we need to have a good life. We are His children after all. To live the Christian life here on Earth does not necessarily mean living an easy life but being blessed, guided, directed and protected by Him. It naturally means not suffering the emptiness, the sadness and hardship of the lost and unsaved people around us. They need help and saving. They don’t realize it but they need to know the Lord and start having faith in Him.
As I mentioned some time ago, the Lord blesses the faithful abundantly. God is our source and His promises of prosperity are true and He always keeps His promises (refer to Genesis 39: 2-6, Psalm 1: 1-3, Hebrews 6: 10-12, Deuteronomy 8: 18, Jeremiah 17: 7, Genesis 13: 2, Leviticus 26: 3-5, Psalm 35: 27 and Psalm 37: 3-11). As faithful children of the Lord, we can enjoy riches and luxuries and never feel ashamed nor worried as we know that the blessings came from the Lord who worked legally through the existing financial systems of this screwed-up world we live in. In short, God always finds a way and His timing always makes sense. We need to be patient with Him and still believe in His works to bless us no matter how bad or how good our situation is.
Of course, as blessed children of His, we must never ever let riches and abundance separate us from Him. God, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit must always be prioritized. The Lord is our source and therefore we would not be enjoying the blessings without Him. As such, we must never ever fall into the temptation of covetousness which leads to greed. To be covetous means to obsessively acquire wealth and things that ultimately will not satisfy the lust of acquiring more than what is realistically needed. Covetousness also means the corruption of the soul and getting separated from the Lord. Earthly things that are acquired without prioritizing the Lord are clearly not blessings from Him. Learn from the following holy scriptures below…
He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he loves abundance, with increase. This is also vanity
Ecclesiastes 5: 10 (NKJV)
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, not covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 (NKJV)
Speaking to the people, Jesus continued, “Be alert and guard your heart from greed and always wishing for what you don’t have. For your life can never be measured by the amount of things you possess.”
Luke 12: 15 (TPT)
“I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20: 35 (NKJV)
As you can see, it is written in the Holy Bible that covetousness and greed are destructive. Becoming materialistic is bad! To be dominated by covetousness and greed means giving in to the love for wealth and material things which also means cutting yourself away from God, our ultimate creator and source! Lord Jesus’ words about guarding our hearts from greed clearly shows that we should not only be mindful of what is happening but always resist the temptation of acquiring too much and going beyond our needs. There are many people around us who believe in the falsehood that acquiring too much and obsessing for more all the time is part of the good life the Lord has in store for them. That is simply distorted and untrue! There are truly limits on what we need and how much in blessings we can receive. The abundant blessings we receive from God is great enough, and we certainly should not become covetous. God truly does NOT want us Christians to live in poverty (a curse from Satan) and He surely wants us to be disciplined with the way we live, the way we use His blessings and the like.
How to keep ourselves in check and be more responsible with the abundant blessings we receive from the Lord? You can start with tithing, the guaranteed giving back of 10% of your income to Him through your local church. Next, you can be a blessing to others by cheerfully giving something (in cash or in kind) to someone you are willing to share the Lord’s blessings with. If you know a fellow Christian at church trying to raise money for a planned bible-led outreach, then you have the opportunity to donate to that person so he or she can succeed in preaching the Word of God and saving lost souls. Cheerfully giving back to the Lord and blessing others are effective ways to prevent yourself from becoming selfish, greedy and covetous. Lord Jesus’ own words that it is more blessed to give than to receive is in reference to our time as well as our money, and that supporting the weak (the less fortunate) is something He desires for us to do for it is His nature to give. When we become blessings to others, we do it cheerfully and do it in accordance to the character of Lord Jesus. These ways are truly part of the good life from the Lord.
Of course, in opposite to the covetous and the greedy, there is a bunch of people out there who cannot help but be extremely obsessed with anti-materialism. These are lost and unsaved souls who do more than just tell you to avoid being materialistic. They will express their wrongful beliefs that money is the root of all evil (note: money itself is actually neutral and is a useful tool in receiving blessings from the Lord), that you are not meant to prosper (note: this puts them at odds with God and they don’t realize it), and that the only people to support (by means of donation) in the entire world are the impoverished (note: God’s provision is NOT exclusive to the impoverished).
I even encountered one of these anti-materialism fanatics. She is so obsessed with her wrongful beliefs, she seems willing to someday leave her children with not much left to survive with only because she believes money is cursed and wealth is immoral. She also made clear her personal beliefs that prosperity from God is not true and that poverty is not a curse. She does not know the truth written in the Holy Bible. This is the result of her living a life dominated by religion, idols, traditions, wrongful theology and rituals. As such, these lost souls and unsaved souls blinded by anti-materialism obsessions need saving and they need to be prayed for.
As such, being blessed by the Lord and being disciplined (rejecting fully covetousness greed) and being responsible (having our needs met and being able to give back to Him and bless others we could) with what we received are part of the good life from Him.
More on the good life from God, it is undeniably true that Lord Jesus offers us peace and joy that the world itself cannot match nor replicate. Pay close attention to His words in the following bible scriptures below.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14: 27 (NKJV)
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 15: 11 (NKJV)
John 14: 27 is about the ultimate form of peace that only Lord Jesus can give to those who truly believe in Him. By comparison, worldly peace made by governments, or a truce between rival factions, or special agreements made between powerful groups are all temporary, ultimately fragile and each are bound to break down in due time (which can lead to another bout of fighting, even wars). With Lord Jesus’ peace, you can be assured that the said peace is eternal and will never get corrupted. This is why we should not let our hearts be burdened with pain, worry and doubts under Him.
As for John 15: 11, it emphasizes that our joy becomes full through experiencing Jesus’ own joy within us. To be full of happiness, hope and rest with Him is easily connected with His telling us not to have troubled hearts.
Being born again, we Christians must always keep the Holy Spirit in our hearts and eternally be faithful to the Lord, living by His Word (the Holy Bible). What we study in the Holy Bible, we apply the lessons in our lives.
By comparison, a person who does not have the Holy Spirit in his heart is very vulnerable to temptation and evil. Satan knows this and he knows that for as long as people do not believe in the Lord or are living with religion (along with idolatry, traditions, wrongful theology and rituals) that prevent them from achieving true faith in God, they are easy to be manipulated to serve his evil purposes. The enemy knows how to cause chaos around people and then reach inside the lost and unsaved souls to bring out more wickedness. Satan obviously does not want people to know the Lord and he manipulates them to suffer and live the painful life instead of having a blessed, good life from God. Take a close look at the following bible verses below…
“Evil originates from inside a person. Coming out of a human heart are evil schemes, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, treachery, debauchery, jealousy, slander, arrogance, and recklessness. All these corrupt things emerge from within and constantly pollute a person.”
Mark 7: 21-23 (TPT)
What is the cause of your conflicts and quarrels with each other? Doesn’t the battle begin inside of you as you fight to have your own way and fulfill your own desires? You jealously want what others have so you begin to see yourself as better than others. You scheme with envy and harm others to selfishly obtain what you crave—that’s why you quarrel and fight. And all the time you don’t obtain what you want because you won’t ask God for it!
James 4: 1-2 (TPT)
A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!
John 10: 10 (TPT)
As you can see in the above scriptures, having the Holy Spirit in our hearts and dedicating ourselves to the Lord are truly essential. Without the Holy Spirit in us, we would have been very vulnerable to the temptations and manipulations of the enemy. Satan rules over people who are not edified under the Lord and it is easy for him to manipulate the unsaved person into giving in to wickedness, temptations, strife, violence, greed, immorality and destruction to name some. To put things in perspective, Satan gained dominion when Adam rebelled against God and, as written in the Holy Bible, this led to a downward spiral for humanity. Committing sinful and unrighteous acts became too common among people before the Great Flood happened.
Before gaining the Holy Spirit in our hearts upon getting born again, our hearts contained no holiness. We were vulnerable to wickedness, to the impulse and lust of the flesh, and we were too easy to be manipulated by Satan to commit sin. Now that we know the truth in the Holy Bible and we know better, we Christians can defeat Satan by having strong faith in the Lord and doing His Word in our lives. Strong faith and being a doer of God’s Word are essential for us to gain the good life from Him. Always remember that Lord Jesus is the definitive Savior of us all and He always restores believers who previously suffered from the darkness caused by the enemy!
Now pay close attention to the following holy scriptures below…
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3: 3 (NKJV)
“Don’t keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value.”
Matthew 6: 19-20 (TPT)
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6: 31-33 (NKJV)
About the above scriptures, let me declare to you – my readers and fellow faithful Christians – that becoming born again is truly the greatest miracle that happened in my life. In my old life, I gone through decades of pointless religion and even several years of being faithless. I responded to the Lord’s call when my dearest friend in life invited me to her church, and then weeks later I accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. What He stated in John 3: 3 is undeniably true! My life has turned around for the better and I now know my true purpose under the Lord.
Matthew 6: 19-20 confirms the existence of wealth in the kingdom of God which we, His children, will inherit. What blessings we receive from the Lord while living in the flesh here on Earth are not only temporary but are just a fraction of kingdom wealth. Kingdom wealth is so much greater than all of the wealth of this screwed-up world. As such, Matthew 6: 31-33 confirms that the Lord is watching us all the time and He definitely knows our needs and in due time, He will keep blessing us. That being said, the very least we Christians must do is seek God’s kingdom and achieve holiness under Him. Pursue God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and then the good life He planned for us filled with peace, prosperity, stability and happiness will manifest.
At this point, I would like to reach out to the lost and the unsaved people reading this. You can save yourselves by submitting to the Lord willingly. No force and no coercion here. You have time and freedom to decide. For those who have decided to get born again now, please read the instructions and follow the prayer that I learned from our pastor.
Are you ready? Firstly, open your heart to the Lord and pray this simple prayer in sincerity from your heart:
Dear God,
I believe that Jesus is Your Son, and that He died on the cross to pay the penalty of my sins. I believe that Jesus has been raised from the dead and that He is alive! Right now, I call on the name of Jesus. Jesus, come into my heart. I receive You as my personal Lord and Savior. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me by the power of Your blood. Thank You for saving me and giving me eternal life! Help me now to follow Your plan for my life. Amen.
Congratulations! You are now a child of God! You have received Holy Spirit in your heart! This is easily your greatest decision ever made and also the greatest miracle of your life. Always praise, thank and honor the Lord. No more darkness in your life caused by politics, radicalism, toxicity, rebellion, religion, unbelief, evil, idolatry, traditions and rituals! Leave behind the darkness of your life and don’t look back to it. With Lord Jesus, you are already moving forward! You also have a personal relationship with God, a relationship that is strictly off-limits to others (even to your household members or biological family members).
With your new life realized, make an effort to acquire a copy of the Holy Bible (New King James Version is recommended), study it and apply its lessons into your life no matter what situation you are in right now. I also recommend you to join a church of born-again Christians near you and find your place in the spiritual family (God’s family). Worship the Lord together with them and always remember that faith, not religion, is essential in your personal relationship with God.
The Holy Bible is the ultimate authority and nothing else comes close. Remember always that Lord Jesus did not die on the cross to start religion. He died to redeem us all and showed that we must be led by faith in Him, faith in the Holy Spirit and faith in God the Heavenly Father. He rose from the dead and made His earthly presence felt once more to those who believed in Him. Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven and He promised to return in the future.
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Sharing this Christian piece means spreading the good news of the Lord to others. It can help you save the unsaved and the lost souls out there.
After attending worship today, I reflected deeply on what was emphasized to us by our pastor which is very true – that the Lord rewards His faithful followers abundantly.
I personally can relate with that. For the past year of twenty-eighteen (2018), I have been very blessed by the Lord a lot since becoming Born Again. I did not just attend Sunday worship at our church. I also attended several Bible Study sessions, holy seminars and open prayer sessions. I did not just pray, I also read God’s Word with the Holy Bible, prayed in tongues (to edify my soul and truly communicate with Him), stopped living with the beggar mentality and developed a deeper relationship and faith with the Lord. I also humbled myself, learned that the fear of the Lord leads to enlightenment or wisdom and now I have a very different and more positive outlook. The blessings I received are not only financial but also personal and social in nature. In return for those blessings, I tithe more than ever before knowing that God is the source and the money and assets I have came from Him. I’m much happier, I’m no longer lonely and I’m now part of a tremendous community of faithful people. I’m part of a spiritual family!
To understand why God rewards the faithful a lot, let’s take a look at the scriptures from the Bible.
What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor it is the gift of God. I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it. And nothing can be taking from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; And God required an account of what is past.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 (NKJV)
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:10-12 (NKJV)
Jesus said: And behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.
Revelations 22:12 (NKJV)
As believers in the Lord, we each have a task from Him as well as an account required by Him. It’s like real world work and financing. At work we do our daily duties and get paid on Pay Day (every fifteen days) by means of financial transactions the money of which get deposited through the banks under our names (and this requires having an account with the bank already). Without an account with the bank, we cannot receive nor withdraw money with added security. Sure we can just have the paycheck(s) turned into cash over-the-counter by visiting the bank personally but who has time for that? Having an account with the bank is essential.
Back to the Lord, He requires an account from each of us and it has a lot more to do than just money. We followers are meant to be accountable to Him in terms of our faithfulness, what have we done with rewards He gave us already, and in order to receive further rewards from Him in return for not only being faithful but also for performing the tasks He gave to each of us.
God is gentle and loving. He has so much to reward each of us and in order to be rewarded we must do what He tasked us and we must prove we are truly faithful to Him. We can do good under the Lord by preaching His Word and spreading the good news to others around us, especially the people who are lost souls. Saving a lost soul will bring in a nice reward from the Lord.
God is a just Father and He does not break His own rules. He will not forget the work we rendered to His name. For sure a reward will be given once you proved your faithfulness and your accomplishment of the God-given task. The Lord Jesus will bring His reward that can be enjoyed.
In local society, a laborer can work very hard for so long and still not get the raise he/she deserves as there are employers who can be abusive or may be lacking resources to do it. Under Lord Jesus and God the Father, we don’t ever have to worry about such shortcomings as the rewards to be given to each of us will not only be satisfying but also abundant.
One more thing about rewards from the Lord – not everyone gets the same amount or the same kind of reward. We the faithful must realize that under the Lord, we each have a personal relationship with Him (note: strictly off-limits) and we have different tasks from Him which is related to what we are dealing with in local society as we live in the flesh. A faithful business person who does well can make a lot of good money and expand business connections in local society while a faithful poem composer can sell more of his/her literary works to consumers which rakes in additional funds (but the money coming in won’t go near what the successful, faithful business person makes). As the Lord Jesus said in Revelations 22:12 – And behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.
Ultimately, we can all keep the unwavering faith in the Lord, be faithful in Him, do whatever task He assigned to each of us and we can do more knowing fully well that He will reward us not only enough but abundantly. In other words, never worry that laboring under the Lord will lead to disappointment. God will never forsake us as He loves us, He gave us His Son Jesus to save us and in return we only need to keep being faithful and achieve whatever He assigns us. Keep the faith and you will move forward with happiness, rewards and a lot of satisfaction! We are not beggars under Him. In fact we the faithful are accessors and possessors of Kingdom Wealth prepared by God. Also what we gained financially while living in the flesh, we really should practice tithing which is giving back to Him through church the 10% of our income. While we enjoy the abundance, we still have the responsibilities of disciplining ourselves with our spending, how we used the rewards the Lord gave us and the challenge of avoiding covetousness. Remember that.
In closing this, here are some 700 Club videos embedded for your viewing and spiritual needs. There is no denying that God blesses the faithful abundantly. God is the source of all prosperity, opportunities and progress!
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Sharing this Christian piece means spreading the good news of the Lord to others. It can help you save the unsaved and the lost souls out there. Also please consider making a donation to support my publishing of faith articles and CMAs.
Author Carlo Carrasco 