The Philippines is working to establish its national nuclear infrastructure, following its decision in 2022 to include nuclear power in the country's energy mix. A critical piece of this infrastructure is the needed legal framework for the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy.
To support the country in strengthening its legal framework, and at the request of the Government, an IAEA Legislative Assistance Mission was conducted from 2 to 5 May 2023. A series of awareness meetings with decision‐makers, policy-makers, senior officials and parliamentarians, provided an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of the Philippines joining and implementing the instruments adopted under the IAEA auspices in the areas of nuclear safety, security, safeguards and liability.
During the three-day national workshop on nuclear law, Carlo Arcilla, Director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) said that “the Philippines has signed but not yet ratified the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Joint Convention and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC).
“Through highlighting the rights, obligations, benefits, and costs arising from joining these instruments, the mission has strengthened our resolve to become party to them and to continue pursuing the strengthening of our legal framework,” Arcilla said.
The mission engaged sixty-two participants from eighteen different governmental bodies, organizations, and parliamentarians, including, the Congress of the Philippines, PNRI, the Department of Energy and the Department of Science and Technology
