Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 22) — The nuclear cooperation deal between the United States and the Philippines is expected to materialize in five years, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose ‘Babe’ Manuel Romualdez said Wednesday.
“Maybe five years we can have one modular nuclear power plant operating,” Romualdez told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
The Philippines and US signed the “123 Agreement,” or the Philippines-United States Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco last week. It is seen to help with the country’s energy security by laying the legal basis for the transfer of nuclear equipment and material from the US to Manila.
Romualdez said the US “really went out of its way to make sure that this thing is done right away” in time for Marcos’ visit to the US.
Studies have shown that modular nuclear power plants can be established across the Philippines, he noted.
He expects more nuclear facilities to be operational across the country in the next 7-10 years.
The Philippines secured over $672-million investment pledges following Marcos’ participation in the APEC Summit.
Romualdez said all these, including those that Marcos secured in his earlier US trips, are already ongoing and will be implemented in stages.
