Latest news with #PhilippineNationalNuclearEnergySafetyAct
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DOE panel begins review of laws amid PH nuclear push
The Nuclear Energy Program-Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) has started its comprehensive review of the country's current nuclear laws, regulations, and policies as the government explores possibilities in nuclear energy development. Led by the Department of Energy (DOE), NEP-IAC Subcommittee 3 met with concerned government agencies and stakeholders from August 12 to 15 to identify the needed amendments in establishing a national legal framework for a safe, secure, and sustainable use of modern nuclear energy technology. "We want to make sure that all legal hurdles are cleared before we take major steps forward in fulfilling our nuclear power objectives. From the review of the laws and issuances, we will propose enactment or amendment of laws as appropriate," DOE Legal Services Director Myra Fiera Roa said. In June, the Senate ratified the proposed Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, which forms the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM.) The House of Representatives earlier approved its counterpart bill in November 2023. PhilATOM will ensure that an independent and competent authority regulates the nuclear energy infrastructure, including its siting, construction, licensing, safety, and eventual operation. DOE Secretary Sharon Garin had said that the Philippines will comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) requirements for nuclear infrastructure development. Following its evaluation of the country's progress in December 2024, the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Mission confirmed that nine of the recommendations from the 2018 INIR Mission have been fully addressed, while five were still in progress. "We want to seize every opportunity to get things done right on the potential use of nuclear energy for the benefit of our people," Roa said. NEP-IAC has 24 member agencies, which formed six subcommittees. Subcommittee 3 is tasked with the legal and regulatory framework. Under the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050, the country plans to have a nuclear capacity of at least 1,200 megawatts (MW) by 2032, doubling it to 2,400 MW by 2035 and to 4,800 MW by 2050. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
13-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DOE lauds ratification of PhilATOM bill
The Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday welcomed the Bicameral Conference Committee's ratification of the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, which establishes the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM), as this would pave the way for the country's foray into nuclear power generation in the near future. 'After two decades of advocacy and deliberation, the passage of the PhilATOM bill marks a historic turning point for the Philippines. We will now have the necessary legal and institutional foundations to guide the development of nuclear energy infrastructure with oversight for the highest standards of safety and security. This is a critical step forward in strengthening our long-term energy security while ensuring that every action we take is anchored on responsibility, transparency, and public trust,' DOE's incoming officer-in-charge Undersecretary Sharon Garin said at a press conference in Taguig City. Garin also oversees the Nuclear Energy Program-Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), which leads the formulation of the country's nuclear energy roadmap and coordinates efforts to address the 19 infrastructure issues identified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including the establishment of a legal and regulatory framework. The DOE official said the creation of PhilATOM is essential in ensuring that all aspects of nuclear energy infrastructure, such as siting, construction, licensing, safety, and eventual operation, are effectively and comprehensively regulated by an independent and competent authority. She, however, clarified that the establishment of PhilATOM does not signal the immediate construction of a nuclear power plant as any country pursuing nuclear energy must undergo a rigorous, step-by-step process and comply fully with the IAEA's stringent requirements for nuclear infrastructure development. Under the Philippine Energy Plan, the country targets to build its first working nuclear power plant by 2032. The Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act was approved on third and final reading by the Senate on June 9, 2025. The House of Representatives earlier approved its counterpart bill in November 2023. Once enacted into law, PhilATOM will serve as the country's sole and independent regulator for 'the peaceful, safe, and secure uses of nuclear energy and radiation sources.' The agency will also act as the official national point of contact in the event of nuclear or radiological emergencies, in line with international conventions and agreements to which the Philippines is a party. The generation of electricity from nuclear energy will remain governed by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and subject to the regulatory oversight of the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). "Ultimately, our pursuit of nuclear energy is guided by the vision of securing a safe, clean, and reliable power source for future generations," Garin said. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
