PH vows to protect marine environment as Japan plans to release radioactive water
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has committed to prioritize the protection of the country’s marine environment in light of Japan’s plans to release treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said the Philippines would continue to view the matter “from a science- and fact-based perspective.”
“The Philippines continues to look at this issue from a science- and fact-based perspective and its impact on the waters in the region. As a coastal and archipelagic State, the Philippines attaches utmost priority to the protection and preservation of the marine environment,” Daza said.
“The Philippines recognizes the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) technical expertise on this matter,” she added.
Last August 22, Japan said it would release over a million metric tonnes of treated radioactive water on August 24. This plan drew criticisms from China and Japan’s local fishing groups, who fear that release would cause damage and a threat to their livelihood.
Japan responded to this and said that the water was safe, and the plan received a green light from the IAEA, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, claiming that its impact would have a “negligible” impact on both people and the environment.
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