The Philippines has bolstered its nuclear energy development push with a whole-of-government workshop that finalized the action plans for the National Policy and Strategy on Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection.
The government, led by the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), also began drafting action plans for the proposed National Policy and Strategy on Nuclear Security as the country prepares to have at least 4,800 megawatts of nuclear capacity by 2050 under the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050.
The activity, held from Oct. 13 to 17, 2025, in Clark, Pampanga, builds on earlier workshops and technical meetings organized by the NEP-IAC in September 2024 and April 2025.
The collaborative discussions and expert input seek to ensure the alignment of the action plans with national priorities and international obligations, promoting a coherent, sustainable and risk-informed approach to nuclear safety, radiation protection and nuclear security.
Department of Energy director Patrick Aquino, who heads the NEP-IAC’s Technical Secretariat, said these nuclear policies are not mere documents — “they are strategic instruments that embody our nation’s resolve to uphold the highest standards of safety, security, and sustainability in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology.”
“Through collaborative discussions, we aim to translate the guiding principles and strategic objectives of these policies into concrete, measurable and time-bound actions,” Aquino said.
The workshop identified specific activities and initiatives under each strategy, defined success indicators, determined realistic timelines, assigned lead and supporting agencies, and estimated the required resources and budget for implementation.
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute division chief Neil Raymund Guillermo noted the workshop was “a chance to share ideas, align our efforts, and make sure our strategies are not just well-written but doable, measurable and impactful.”
Aquino said the passage of Republic Act No. 12305, or the PhilAtom Law, increased the imperative to lay down concrete plans on how to advance the country’s nuclear energy development and to make it more acceptable to the public.
“Our efforts will therefore serve as a critical complement to this legislative milestone, aligning policy and strategy with the evolving nuclear governance landscape,” Aquino said.
The NEP-IAC conducted the activities to refine the Nuclear Safety Policy and Strategy, contributing to the follow-up Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review Mission and supporting the development of safety and security infrastructure, national commitments and strategic action plans.
With 24 member agencies, the NEP-IAC earlier formed six subcommittees to divide and tackle the 19 infrastructure issues identified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
