The Philippines and the United are strengthening collaboration on regulatory frameworks and commercial partnerships to build a skilled nuclear workforce as Manila moves to integrate nuclear power into its energy mix by 2032.
The US government announced several initiatives on Monday to advance the Trump administration’s goal of exporting American nuclear technologies to allies while deepening strategic partnerships through safe and safeguarded energy.
It said the initiatives are anchored on the “123 Agreement” signed last year, which serves as a legal framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation. The programs aim to enhance energy security and meet tech goals such as powering artificial intelligence.
US Department of State Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation Principal deputy assistant secretary Ann Ganzer said the government is pursuing opportunities to enhance financing and trade support for nations eager to develop civil nuclear programs.
“We want to work together to get Philippines to the finish line on nuclear energy. Beyond acquiring the technology and establishing robust regulations to achieve that 2032 goal, the most vital elements will be assessing sites for commercial reactor, and developing the skilled workforce needed to design, construct, operate, regulate, and sustain advanced nuclear plants for generations to come,” Ganzer said.
The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is funding a P152.9-million ($2.7 million) feasibility study to help Manila Electric Co. assess and deploy US-designed small modular reactors (SMRs). The study will evaluate technologies, identify viable sites, and deliver an implementation roadmap.
The State Department’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program provided a P84.9-million ($1.5 million) Nuclear Reactor Control Room Simulator. Based on an advanced US design, the simulator positions the Philippines as a regional training hub. Installed within the Luzon Economic Corridor, it will provide hands-on training for future operators to practice safety procedures and emergency scenarios.
“A state of the art training tool, the simulator will enable Filipino students to gain hands on experience in operating a nuclear power plant right here in the classroom and to ensure nuclear development in the region,” Ganzer said.
A new P141.6-million ($2.5 million) public-private partnership led by Fulbright Philippines and supported by Aboitiz Power Corp., EōS Organization and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will bring US experts to the country to develop specialized curricula.
“This approximately $2.5 million public private partnership will harness US academic expertise to develop vocational and higher education curriculum tailored to train Filipino students in the specialized fields essential to supporting a thriving nuclear industry,” Ganzer said.
Other initiatives include a USTDA-funded trade mission for 10 to 15 Philippine officials to visit American facilities and new academic partnerships between Philippine universities, Texas A&M University and King’s College London.
Filipino lawmakers will travel to the US in 2026 to study the policies and regulatory frameworks that enable a successful civil nuclear sector.
