29/09/2025
Cayetano’s PhilATOM Law to lead PH toward safer, smarter use of
nuclear technology
A landmark law providing for a comprehensive legal framework aimed at ensuring nuclear energy safety and governance in the Philippines has been enacted, thanks to the efforts of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
This after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act (Republic Act No. 12305) into law on September 18, 2025.
Cayetano played a key role in advancing the legislation, having
championed its Senate version as chair of the Senate Committee on
Science and Technology in the 19th Congress.
“Across the globe, nuclear energy has been used for peaceful and
beneficial applications contributing to sectors such as medicine,
agriculture, industry, and energy production,” Cayetano said.
The Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act establishes the
PhilATOM which is an independent regulatory body with exclusive
authority to oversee safety, security, and safeguards related to
nuclear energy, ionizing radiation sources, and radioactive materials.
“It’s obvious why we need the PhilATOM [as established by the] Nuclear Energy Safety Act. It plays a vital role in treating diseases, food security, improving crop yield, mitigating the effects of climate
change and generating clean, reliable power or electricity,” he
emphasized.
The law also seeks to modernize outdated nuclear-related legislation and prevent conflict of interest by separating the dual functions of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), retaining its promotional mandate while transferring its regulatory responsibilities to PhilATOM.
Regarding ionizing radiation, the regulatory function of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research shall be transferred to PhilATOM, which shall now serve as the sole independent regulatory body.
This separate function of PNRI and FDA is for the agencies to have an undivided focus on research and development, thereby further enhancing the practical applications of nuclear energy in medicine, agriculture, and industrial fields.
“We will align with our international conventions. It is also not
really possible for those who promote nuclear atomic energy to be the ones who regulate it. This will fix that problem,” he said.
To safeguard the regulatory body’s independence, the senator stressed that PhilATOM will be free from political appointments.
“Unless the politico or barangay captain or senator has at least 7
years of actual distinguished experience in specific fields of science, they cannot be appointed. In PhilATOM, they should regulate use of nuclear energy, not promote it,” Cayetano said.
The senator also noted that one of PhilATOM’s goals is to inspire more Filipinos to pursue careers in the nuclear energy field. # # #
PhilATOM Law ni Cayetano, susi ng bansa tungo sa mas ligtas at mas matalinong paggamit ng nuclear technology
Naisabatas na ang isang landmark law na magbibigay ng malinaw na gabay sa paggamit at pamamahala ng nuclear energy sa Pilipinas, salamat sa mga pagsisikap ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
Ito'y matapos lagdaan ni President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act (Republic Act No. 12305) bilang isang batas noong September 18, 2025.
Si Cayetano ang nanguna sa pagsusulong ng batas at ipinaglaban ang mga naunang bersyon nito sa Senado bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Science and Technology sa 19th Congress.
“Across the globe, nuclear energy has been used for peaceful and
beneficial applications contributing to sectors such as medicine,
agriculture, industry, and energy production,” wika ni Cayetano.
Sa ilalim ng batas, itatag ang PhilATOM bilang isang independent
regulatory body na may eksklusibong kapangyarihang mangasiwa sa kaligtasan, seguridad, at mga pananggalang na may kaugnayan sa nuclear energy, mga pinagmulan ng ionizing radiation, at radioactive materials.
“It’s obvious why we need the PhilATOM [as established by the] Nuclear Energy Safety Act. It plays a vital role in treating diseases, food security, improving crop yield, mitigating the effects of climate
change and generating clean, reliable power or electricity,” giit
niya.
Layon din ng batas na i-update ang mga luma nang batas na may
kaugnayan sa nuclear energy at maiwasan ang conflict of interest.
Mananatili sa Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) ang
tungkuling magtaguyod ng nuclear energy, habang ililipat naman sa PhilATOM ang tungkuling mag-regulate.
Kaugnay ng ionizing radiation, ang regulatory function ng Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research ay ililipat din sa PhilATOM.
Ang paghihiwalay ng tungkulin ng PNRI at FDA ay para makatuon ang mga ahensya sa research and development, at sa gayon ay lalong mapapainam ang mga praktikal na aplikasyon ng nuclear energy sa larangan ng medisina, agrikultura, at industriya.
“We will align with our international conventions. It is also not
really possible for those who promote nuclear atomic energy to be the ones who regulate it. This will fix that problem,” aniya.
Upang pangalagaan ang kalayaan ng regulatory body, binigyang diin ng senador na ang PhilATOM ay malaya sa mga political appointment.
“Unless the politico or barangay captain or senator has at least 7
years of actual distinguished experience in specific fields of
science, they cannot be appointed. In PhilATOM, they should regulate use of nuclear energy, not promote it,” sabi ni Cayetano.
Binanggit din ng senador na isa sa mga layunin ng PhilATOM ay ang magbigay-inspirasyon sa mas maraming Pilipino na magtamo ng karera sa larangan ng nuclear energy.