Hundreds of protesters urged legislators on Sunday not to support a bill in Congress to revive the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

Volunteers of environmental activist group Greenpeace and members of a network opposed to the BNPP also formed a human banner at the UP sunken garden forming the words - “NO TO BNPP.”

They called on members of the House of Representatives who indicated their support to the bill to withdraw their signatures and ensure it does not get past the House Committee on Appropriations.

More than 190 congressmen are believed to have backed the measure.

Protesters said reviving BNPP is not the answer to the country's energy problem, adding neither will it solve climate change. Instead, they said government should expand the country's renewable-energy capacity and promote energy-efficient technology.

Members of the Network Opposed to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant revival also held a rally in front of UP Diliman’s Quezon Hall to call attention to the surcharge that would be imposed on power consumers if the bill is passed.

The group also called for the junking of House Bill (HB) 4631 which proposes the recommissioning of the BNPP. The group also said the BNPP revival will not address the expected energy crisis. They urged government to turn to indigenous energy sources instead.

Akbayan Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros Baraquel and Quezon 4th district Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III and former Akbayan Rep. Loreta Rosales were also among those who attended the activity.

The House Committee on Appropriations is expected to take up the bill when it meets on Wednesday.

‘For power shortage’
Pangasinan 5th district Rep Mark Cojuangco, co author of the bill , meanwhile said in a phone interview that he is confident that HB 4631 will be passed.

Cojuangco also defended the proposed measure which he said will ensure the stability of the country's energy situation. He warned of an impending power shortage by 2012 which he said would see power generation capacity to be only at 3,000 MW.

Cojuangco added that the bill which when passed will require consumers to pay more for electricity to partly shoulder the plant's rehabilitation is a small price to pay for long-term benefits. With a report from Caroline Howard, ABS-CBN News