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SATURDAY, 03 SEPTEMBER 2011 17:20 DENNIS D. ESTOPACE / REPORTER
EXPERTS promoting the advancement of science in the Philippines are urging the public to keep an open mind on nuclear energy as an alternative fuel source. “We still feel the public needs better understanding of nuclear energy,” Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science (Philaas) President Fortunato de la Peña said.
De la Peña, who is also the undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology, explained to a select group of reporters the choice of nuclear energy as a topic at the Philaas convention this month was “one of the key issues and threats we think is relevant.”
Energy security, as well as food security and marine biodiversity, are the main issues to be discussed by scientists and students at the 60th convention of the nonprofit group established in 1951.
Last year’s convention, attended by more than 300 people, focused on disaster preparedness, according to past Philaas President Fortunato Sevilla III.
“More than forwarding policy recommendations, we want to disseminate as much as possible a very sober and scientific way to the general public of things that matter in our lives,” said Sevilla, a professor of chemistry at the University of Sto. Tomas.
“We don’t want to go too technical” and encourage our young people to pursue science as a career.
De la Peña lamented that the country doesn’t have experts on nuclear science, not only for energy use but also for health and agriculture.
“Such ventures would require further training and we don’t have institutions supporting this.”
De la Peña added that the path to nuclear energy is sequential.
“We have to decide first if we want to go into this, as what we did before 1986.”
De la Peña referred to the Philippine nuclear program that began in 1958 when then-President Ferdinand Marcos issued under Republic Act 2067 creating the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission.
With the 1973 oil crisis, the Marcos administration ventured into building the country’s first nuclear plant in Bataan, 60 miles west of Manila, but which never flickered to life due to mounting public sentiment against its operation.
The Philippines currently relies on oil, forming 33 percent of the total energy mix. Geothermal energy sources follow at 22 percent, coal at 18 percent, and biomass at 13 percent, according to a presentation by Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug Jr.
Biomass energy, to note, would also be discussed during the Philaas convention, spearheaded by Mark LM. Quinn, founder of London, United Kingdom-based Clenergen Corp.
De la Peña said Quinn’s business involves the use of fast-growing bamboos and the technology of which is being tested in Romblon.
Likewise, the convention, which is expected to be attended by 300 —a third of which are students– would also discuss solar energy harvesting technologies, spearheaded by the sharing of National Taiwan University professor Jing Tang Yang.
Nuclear energy would be discussed by International Atomic Energy Agency senior energy economist Ferenc Lazlo Toth.
While de la Peña said Philaas avoids issuing a stand on certain issues, the group will also take a position based on reactions elicited from participants.
“It’s best to keep an open mind.”
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