PBBM signs National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, creates PhilATOM

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12305, the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, establishing the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM) to regulate the peaceful, safe, and secure use of nuclear energy and radiation sources.

PhilATOM is an independent and quasi-judicial body tasked with protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation, and will assume regulatory tasks currently managed by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and the FDA-Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research (FDA-CDRRHR).

The agency will issue licenses for nuclear-related activities, regulate the transport, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials, and ensure compliance with international commitments such as those with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The Department of Energy (DOE) welcomed the enactment of the law, with Energy Secretary Sharon Garin stating it modernizes nuclear regulation consistent with IAEA standards and global best practices.

This measure is considered a vital step towards the Philippines' target of harnessing at least 1,200 megawatts of nuclear power by 2032 and scaling up to 4,800 MW by 2040, attracting investment into the power sector and strengthening long-term energy security.

Electricity generation from nuclear plants will remain subject to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, with the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission maintaining oversight roles.