By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) on Thursday (Nov. 13) said that they are now drafting the IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) of the PhilATOM Law.
At the PIA Press Conference, Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla, Director of DOST-PNRI, said that there will be an independent PhilATOM.
The Philippines is already nuclear since the 60s.
“We regulate the radioactive materials. We have 200-400 people, with contractuals.
With the new law, the regulatory function will be detached from the PNRI, and it will be transferred to the PhilATOM,” Dr. Arcilla said.
“We have many co-funded researches,” he added.
“We have the reactor, but we don’t produce energy. We only make researches,” Dr. Arcilla said.
Many of the division managers at the PNRI are women.
Scientists I to IV with outstanding outputs have high salaries than the director.
The Philippines is the biggest source of plastic because the sachets of shampoo or soap are made of plastic.
“We have a prototype of a house which is made of plastic,” Dr. Arcilla said.
The Philippines is one of the countries which has many sources of Hydrogen such as Zambales, which has the rich source of Hydrogen.
The Department of Energy has already granted an exploration service hydrogen to explore hydrogen.
Hydrogel with patent ready for the good skin. Carrageenan plant growth promoter.
Technology transfer with three companies such as Shopee and Lazada where the products can be purchased online.
Dr. Arcilla clarified that through irradiation, but not radioactive, the “Kagaw” will be terminated, so the shelf life of mangoes will be extended.
Sterile insect technique where the research is done to combat dengue wherein the male mosquitoes are incapacitated to populate.
The reactor of the PNRI stopped operating in 1988. It is now fully operational where the reactor is functioning.
PhilGamma ensures that there are no virus and bacteria.
Radiation Protection Services generates big income for the PNRI.
The PNRI, with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), is now teaching nuclear courses in schools in the country.
The Nuclear Security Program and Safeguards are activated during “Traslacion” (Feast of Black Nazarene) or SONA (State of the Nation Address) to monitor the presence of nuclear substances.
Last September, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed into law the PhilATOM Bill and the PNRI is now drafting the IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations). The Atomic Center has a budget of P75 million.
NuTec Plastic where Dr. Arcilla is proud to say that the PNRI has many researches on this.
The Atomic Energy Week will be held on Dec. 9-12, 2025 at the PNRI in Commonwealth, Quezon City.
The PNRI has the most number of researches for eight straight years but it does not translate to huge income.
Nuclear energy is now considered as part of the energy. PhilAtom helps guarantee security where safety is number 1.
Meralco, GNPower, Mgen have realized that there is really a need for a “baseload”.
The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) can be rehabilitated.
There was a study that 79% of Filipinos are in favor of nuclear energy because of the expensive cost of electricity.
The UAE (United Arab Emirates), which is in the Middle East, is now going nuclear.
“60% of our energy source is coal, 90% of which is imported from Indonesia. 60% to 70% of our baseload is under threat,” Dr. Arcilla said.
He stressed that South Korea started with nuclear power the same time with the Philippines in 1980s and it now has 26 nuclear power plants.
In solar energy, one megawatt requires one hectare.
“If the government decides to go nuclear, the function of the PNRI will be to regulate,” Dr. Arcilla said.
Dr. Arcilla is about to reach the mandatory retirement age of 65 in government service in a couple of months.
“There is now a shortage of nurses worldwide and there is even more shortage in medical physicists,” Dr. Arcilla said.
“We have collaboration with DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), especially on imported products which require nuclear irradiation,” he added.
Dr. Arcilla said that the United States has 94 nuclear power plants which have 60 years life span.
As far as Dr. Arcilla is concerned, nobody has yet to request for Hydrogen test at the PNRI.
“The important thing in Science is that it’s based on truth,” Dr. Arcilla said. ###
