House pushes creation of nuclear regulatory body

The House of Representatives is pushing for the creation of a Philippine Nuclear Regulatory Commission to unify all nuclear institutions in the country.

The proposed measure has been approved by two committees of the House of Representatives – the committee on government reorganization and the committee on science and technology – and is now up for plenary deliberation.

Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, chairman of the House committee on science and technology, said the proposed regulatory commission would serve as the lead agency tasked to regulate and control the utilization of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation sources in the country.

So far, the government nuclear offices are the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)-Nuclear Regulations, Licensing and Safeguards Division (NRLSD), which is under the Department of Science and Technology (DoST); and the Radiation Regulation Division (RRD) of the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology, which is under the Department of Health (DoH).

The bill seeks for the transfer of the NRLSD of PNRI-DoST and RRD of BHDT-DoH, as well as all its personnel to the Commission.

Abaya, one of the principal sponsors of the bill, said the present international safety standards required that an independent unified nuclear regulatory body be established in the country.

Under the bill, the commission should define policies, safety principles and associated criteria as a basis for its regulatory actions. important to protect public health and safety and the environment from undesirable effects of ionizing radiation. It also provides for a framework for all activities and practices involving nuclear, ionizing radiation and other radioactive materials conducted within the Philippine territory or jurisdiction.

The proposed commission, which will be attached to the Office of the President, will be headed by a commissioner and two associate commissioners and to be composed of at least five technical divisions and two non-technical divisions. –PNA