MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s renewed commitment to nuclear energy during his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) marks a significant milestone in the Philippines’ energy transition, signaling the strongest national endorsement of nuclear power yet since the country adopted its nuclear energy roadmap, according to Alpas Pinas.
In his address before Congress, President Marcos reaffirmed the government’s commitment to pursuing nuclear energy as part of the country’s long-term strategy to ensure energy security, stabilize electricity supply, curb the rising cost of electricity, and address rising power demand. The statement places nuclear energy firmly within the administration’s broader vision for the country’s economic and infrastructure development.
In a press briefing held recently at the Richmonde Hotel in Iloilo City, the group renewed its call to include nuclear energy as part of the country’s development program. Similar media events have been held in Metro Manila, Labrador in Pangasinan, and Cebu City.
The renewed focus on nuclear energy comes as the Philippines continues to face mounting energy challenges. According to the Department of Energy, the country recorded the highest average electricity rate in Southeast Asia in June 2026 at PhP12.43 per kilowatt-hour. Meanwhile, data from the Southeast Asia Information Platform for Energy Transition showed that fossil fuels continue to dominate the country’s power generation, with coal supplying more than 60% of the electricity mix and natural gas contributing another 18%.
This heavy reliance on fossil fuels leaves the country’s energy sector vulnerable to global fuel price volatility and supply disruptions, underscoring the need to strengthen long-term energy security in the face of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that saw the global price of crude oil skyrocket.
For Alpas Pinas, the President’s message reflects the growing recognition that achieving a secure, reliable, and sustainable energy future will require a substantial inclusion of nuclear, which is a low-carbon baseload power source.
“President Marcos’ pronouncement during the SONA represents a defining moment in the Philippines’ energy transition,” said Gayle Certeza, Lead Convenor of Alpas Pinas.
“It is the clearest signal yet that nuclear energy is no longer a distant possibility but an important policy option in addressing our country’s long-term energy needs. As this national conversation moves forward, it is equally important that the government starts making concrete steps to make this happen.
Certeza emphasized that while the President’s statement sets the policy direction, its success will depend on sustained collaboration among government, industry, academia, civil society, and local communities.
“The conversation should now move forward to actions – creating the regulatory institution, investing in human capital, and empowering Filipinos with accurate, evidence-based information.”
Congressman Mark Cojuangco, one of the country’s foremost advocates for nuclear energy and principal author of House Bill No. 8567, also known as the PhilAtom Bill, which seeks to integrate nuclear energy into the country’s electricity sector, described the President’s SONA as a landmark moment for Philippine energy policy.
“For many years, discussions on nuclear energy remained largely technical and aspirational. The President’s SONA changes that. It firmly places nuclear energy within the country’s immediate-term development agenda,” Cojuangco said.
” This is about recognizing that the Philippines needs nuclear, a reliable, low-carbon energy source available to meet growing electricity demand, support industrialization, and achieve long-term energy security. Countries with resilient energy systems have the best capacity for sustained development.”
Citing the remarks of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. about reviving nuclear power during his SONA, Cojuangco expresses optimism on the swift approval of his proposed House Bill No. 8567 to provide incentives and a clear policy framework for integrating nuclear power into the country’s electricity sector.
Alpas Pinas said the renewed policy direction also presents an opportunity to accelerate our path towards nuclear energy. We need clean, cheap, and reliable electricity. And we need more of it to power our economy.
Given the rising electricity demand and energy security concerns in the Philippines, the need for a clean, cheap yet reliable source of energy has become increasingly urgent. Thus, Alpas Pinas reaffirmed its commitment to keep pushing and advocating for our country’s faster transition to nuclear energy.
