Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Mark O. Cojuangco, author of the recently passed Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilAtom) Bill and a prominent nuclear energy advocate, led high-level discussions with government and industry representatives as part of the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Delegation in the United States. The visit aimed to deepen bilateral cooperation on civil nuclear energy, an area of shared interest between the two nations amid growing calls to add nuclear power to the Philippines’ energy mix. Talks centered on financing frameworks, safety standards, and proven best practices for running civil nuclear programs.
During the trip, Cojuangco and fellow House members toured major US nuclear facilities and research institutions including the Tennessee Valley Authority’s small modular reactor deployment site, Kairos Power, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the East Tennessee Economic Council, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The delegation also met with California 6th District Representative Ami Bera to discuss legislative collaboration and nuclear technology applications, and held talks with US Department of Energy Undersecretary Kyle Hausveit on energy security, affordability, reliability, and intergovernmental cooperation.
“Our meeting with the United States provides a great opportunity to bring our nuclear energy vision to the table, and we are grateful to have conversations that align with the ongoing efforts of the Philippines and the US on nuclear energy development,” Cojuangco said. The engagement also supports the work of Alpas Pinas, a non-profit group pushing for nuclear power as a clean, sustainable energy source. Alpas Pinas lead convenor Gayle Certeza noted the discussions laid critical groundwork for future partnerships, adding that Cojuangco’s leadership helps foster informed, globally aligned conversations about nuclear energy in the country.
Public concerns and misconceptions about nuclear safety persist even as interest in the technology rises. Alpas Pinas continues its outreach to highlight nuclear power as affordable, clean, and dependable, and has backed reviving the Bataan Philippine Nuclear Power Plant as one option to broaden the country’s energy mix. Following the passage of the PhilAtom Bill, Cojuangco is now advocating for House Bill 8567, new legislation that would formally integrate nuclear energy into the Philippines’ electricity sector.
