DOE: Filipinos show strong support for nuclear energy future

More than 70 percent of Filipinos support the use of nuclear energy as a future power source, according to a national survey commissioned by the Department of Energy.

The Public Perception Survey on Nuclear Energy, conducted by Social Weather Stations from May 6 to 24, 2024, polled 7,520 adult respondents and found a growing majority believe nuclear power can provide reliable electricity, reduce dependence on imported fuels, create jobs, and help mitigate climate change.

The poll results carry a ±1 percent margin of error.

A notable 76 percent of respondents also said they were eager to learn more about nuclear energy, signaling widespread openness to public education and awareness efforts.

The survey showed strong net support for nuclear infrastructure, with the proposed rehabilitation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant receiving a +66 approval rating and the construction of new nuclear plants earning a net approval of +45.

Support was highest among younger Filipinos, higher-income households, and respondents with higher levels of education.

“The strong public support reflected in this survey tells us that Filipinos are ready to embrace nuclear energy as part of our energy future,” said Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin.

“This gives us the confidence to move forward with careful, calibrated steps to ensure safe, secure, and sustainable development of nuclear power in the Philippines,” she added.

The Department of Energy emphasized that the growing public trust comes in the wake of the passage of the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act.

In response to this momentum, the DOE will host the Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum 2025 from Oct. 2 to 3 at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The forum will bring together nuclear energy leaders and supply chain experts from Argentina, Canada, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, all of which have established experience in nuclear regulation and infrastructure.

The DOE chairs the Nuclear Energy Program-Inter-Agency Committee, a 24-member panel tasked with aligning the Philippine nuclear energy agenda with International Atomic Energy Agency standards.

Under the Philippine Energy Plan 2023–2050, the country aims to integrate up to 4,800 megawatts of nuclear energy into its power generation mix by 2040.