Manila, Philippines, Dec 15, 2025 /
09:00 am
A group of Filipino bishops has opposed a proposal to construct a nuclear power plant in Western Pangasinan, about 125 miles north of Manila, citing safety, environmental, and moral concerns.
On Dec. 4, church leaders from six dioceses in the Ecclesiastical Province of Lingayen-Dagupan issued a pastoral letter regarding the government’s plan to build a nuclear power plant, expressing their deep concerns about the project.
“We, your pastors, write to you today with profound concern regarding the recent proposal to construct a nuclear power plant in Western Pangasinan,” the bishops said.
Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan signed the letter along with Bishop Napoleon B. Sipalay of Alaminos; Auxiliary Bishop Fidelis B. Layog of Lingayen-Dagupan; Bishop Jacinto A. Jose of Urdaneta; Bishop Daniel O. Presto of San Fernando, La Union; Bishop Prudencio P. Andaya of Cabanatuan; and Father Getty A. Ferrer, JCD, of the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija.
Lessons from Fukushima and the Japanese bishops’ call
The Filipino bishops drew their insights from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan.
The Japanese bishops, in their message for the 10th anniversary of the Fukushima disaster, renewed their commitment to “protect life.” They reminded all that when faced with such an “unprecedented catastrophe,” one must recognize the limits of human wisdom and knowledge.
Church leaders from Japan also noted that “nuclear power generation is fundamentally incompatible with the vision of a ‘symbiotic society’ that respects all life without exception.”
Moreover, Japanese and Korean bishops united in opposing the dumping of “treated” radioactive water into the oceans.
The Filipino bishops acknowledged the stance of the late Pope Francis, who “stressed the paramount importance of safety, prudence, and stewardship for future generations.”
Citing the principle of prudence, the bishops noted that “the potential for a ‘huge disaster’ demands that we prioritize human safety and environmental protection above immediate economic needs.”
“We are blessed with an abundance of renewable energy potential, and the solution to our energy woes exists in strict and urgent implementation of the Renewable Energy Law, which has been in effect since 2008,” the bishops said.
“We must invest heavily in renewable energy infrastructure that ensures safety, resilience, and true long-term development of our people,” the bishops noted.
“Pangasinan is not ours. We owe it to future generations to keep Pangasinan safe from a nuclear catastrophe. The risks are greater than the benefits,” they said.
Santosh Digal is a freelance journalist and educator based in Manila, the Philippines. He reports on religion and society across Asia.
