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MANILA, Philippines — A bill that seeks to create a Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM) and establish a legal framework ensuring safe access and use of nuclear energy in the country has been approved in the House of Representatives on the third and final reading.
During the session on Wednesday, House Bill (HB) No. 9293, or the proposed Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, was approved, with 200 lawmakers voting in the affirmative, seven in the negative, and two abstained.
If enacted, the bill would have the following objectives:
- Establish a legal framework to govern and facilitate the peaceful, safe, and secure uses of nuclear energy
- Protect people and the environment against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Establish the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, otherwise known as the PhilATOM, hereinafter referred to as the Authority, with the functions and responsibilities set forth in this Act
- Enable the Philippines to meet its international obligations on the use of nuclear energy
The bill also proposes that the PhilATOM should have “sole and exclusive jurisdiction to exercise regulatory control for the peaceful, safe, and secure uses of nuclear energy and radiation sources in the Philippines,” replacing the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) in terms of regulatory functions.
“All regulatory functions of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) are hereby transferred to the Authority. All regulatory functions regarding devices generating ionizing radiation of the Radiation Regulation Division of the Center for Device Regulation, Radiation, Health and Research of the Department of Health – Food and Drug Administration are hereby transferred to the Authority,” the bill read.
“The regulatory functions of all other Government authorities or agencies of the Philippines with jurisdiction, functions, and authorities with respect to nuclear energy and radiation sources are hereby transferred to the Authority,” it added.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that the passage of HB No. 9293 will be the first step towards the realization of the administration’s goal of energy security through cheaper and cleaner power rates.
“The PhilATOM shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction to exercise regulatory control for the peaceful, safe, and secure uses of nuclear energy and radiation sources in the Philippines,” Romualdez said.
READ: PH, US sign landmark ‘123 agreement’ on nuclear energy
“This is the first step toward realizing our dream of energy security. We share this bold but promising vision of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. to look into nuclear energy seriously,” he added.
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The approval of HB No. 9293 comes as the Philippines and the United States (US), during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to the country, signed a landmark ‘123 agreement’ on nuclear energy — a deal that US signs with its allies regarding nuclear energy cooperation.
Hinged on the US Atomic Energy Act, the US State Department explains on its webpage that the 123 Agreement refers to Section 123 of the said law, which says partners in nuclear energy cooperation are legally obligated to observe standards and to defer using the deal for nuclear weapons creation