Solons OK tax, income guidelines for nuclear energy

THE Home Committee on Methods and Means has authorized the tax and income provisions of the unnumbered substitute invoice that will create a physique that can regulate the nuclear vitality sector within the nation.

The Home Methods and Means Committee, chaired by Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” S. Salceda, authorized the substitute invoice, which seeks the institution of the Philippine Atomic Vitality Regulatory Authority, or “PhilATOM,” and gives for a complete authorized framework for radiation safety, nuclear safety security and safeguards and bodily security within the peaceable utilization of nuclear vitality within the Philippines.

The panel particularly authorized PhilATOM’s exemption from donor’s tax.

The invoice additionally mandates that, in accordance with the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (Republic Act 10863), the evaluation and approval of export authorizations of nuclear supplies could be coordinated with the Division of Commerce and Trade-Strategic Commerce Administration Workplace, the Bureau of Customs and different border authorities.

Other than establishing the PhilATOM, the invoice additionally units up a complete authorized framework for radiation security and requirements for the peaceable utilization of nuclear vitality. The invoice additionally units the necessities for authorization and regulation of nuclear vitality functions. The Home tax panel revised tax provisions which the nuclear vitality panel accepted.

“It’s excessive time to lastly present for a guiding framework to harness nuclear vitality within the nation,” Salceda stated. “Let’s cease scaring ourselves and let the science and historical past information our selections on nuclear vitality.”

Dependence on coal, oil

THE lawmaker famous that the nation’s dependence on coal and oil imports, “the long-term results of fossil gasoline consumption on well being and local weather, the instability of different vitality sources, in addition to the land space wanted by most renewable sources all level to nuclear as a essential, if not inevitable, choice for a rustic with our inhabitants dimension.”

In keeping with Salceda, nuclear can produce vitality for as little as P1.50 per kilowatt-hour in producing prices.

“After all, I perceive the legitimate criticisms of nuclear vitality. However, nuclear vitality can’t be a yes-or-no query, the place we merely select to fully ignore it without end. If the query is security, what we should ask ourselves is how one can make nuclear vitality secure, to not abandon it altogether,” he stated.

Salceda stated that as a result of fossil gasoline use, estimates vary from 11,000 to 27,000 untimely deaths per yr.

“Nuclear air pollution will solely trigger 1 dying each 33 years. Slightly below photo voltaic vitality, it’s the most secure type of vitality and it’s baseload, not like photo voltaic,” he added.

Salceda stated he and fellow authors of the yet-to-be named invoice are “open to arguments centered on the science.” The invoice is principally authored by Representatives Marcos Juan Bruno “Mark” O. Cojuangco, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Salceda.

“However with no guiding framework to start with, no significant debate can happen,” he added.