Gatchalian wants PH to have comprehensive nuclear energy regulation

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a Senate bill seeking to establish a comprehensive nuclear energy regulation to ensure the safety and security of its potential use in the Philippines.

Gatchalian, in his Senate Bill No. 2506 filed in early December, said nuclear energy has historically become the backbone of developed economies but it has also resulted in catastrophic crises.

“This bill thus seeks to establish a national legal framework for the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation which is consistent with the Philippines’ international commitments as well as the country’s needs, plans, and policies,” Gatchalian’s measure reads.

According to the senator, the main features of his bill are as follows:

• The establishment of an independent and transparent central nuclear regulatory body through the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Commission
• Ensures that all activities are conducted within a system of authorization, continuous monitoring, and enforcement

“If enacted into law, the bill would help ensure safety in the potential use of nuclear energy in the country,” Gatchalian said in a separate statement issued Monday.

“It is important that we have an appropriate law that will govern the use of nuclear energy in the country. It will not be easy to start using this technology so we must ensure that every step we take is safe,” Gatchalian added in Filipino.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself previously said that the government is carefully studying the possibility of using nuclear energy to prevent a potential power crisis in the Philippines.

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