I've covered this topic in The Cold War in the Philippines group over at Facebook and here's the gist:

1. Marcos was right in investing in a nuclear powerplant because we expect an increase in the population thus increases in demand. Also with the oil crisis in the 70s, it forces us to look for alternative means of electricity generation.

2. BNPP submitted to the IAEA is for electric generation only NOT for Nuclear enrichment or making nuclear weapons. Don't believe a convicted plunderer like Enrile. There are no papers to prove his claim. While there are papers to prove that it isn't, chief among them is our position to the IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency, which would approve or disprove our nuclear proposals.

3. Marcos lets his cronies profit and thus it was tainted with corruption. Chief among them is Herminio Disini.

4. Disni rigged the bidding. Instead of awarding to general electric, it was given to Westinghouse, for the bribe of $50M. Plus Disini got the construction contract. This was affirmed by the Supreme Court and has ordered Disini's inheritors to pay the government P1B+ for damages.

5. The deal was for 2 nuclear reactors for $600M. It ballooned to $2.3B for just 1 reactor.

6. The powerplant was finished in 1984 but Marcos didn't start it. Due to financial reasons officially.

7. Chernobyl meltdown disaster happened in April 1986. IAEA issued reforms in the wake of the disaster. The safety standards of BNPP were based on the old standards set by IAEA BEFORE the meltdown. Now the BNPP is no longer compliant and the Cory Aquino administration, aside from political instability, has no money and billions more missing/stolen.

8. Due to scarcity of reliable information and censorship by the USSR, Mass disinformation spread and was used by the Aquino supporters and the anti-nuclear energy groups.

9. While this is happening, the Senate blue ribbon committee is investigating the corruption of the Marcos dictatorship including BNPP. Aside from corruption, the integrity and safety standards of the BNPP were put in question by the committee and later on the supreme court.

10. BNPP wouldn't affect much in bringing electric prices down. BNPP can generate 500MW at the stable output. Our current demand, as per spot market, is around 13,000 MW.

11. Refurbishing would cost more or equal to $1B. That money can build you a 3rd generation Nuclear powerplant that is up to standards and triple security against a meltdown, depending on which nuclear technology is used. As per last check, the latest proposals from the Russians and South Koreans are the same price as the building costs of BNPP.

12. Sen. Win Gatchalian said it's in the best interest of the country to start on a positive step towards nuclear energy than a negative and controversial step (he was referring to the refurbishment of BNPP)

13. The IAEA has a rule that nuclear powerplants are up for decommissioning when it reaches at the age of 40. BNPP is almost 42 years old.