The Philippines is firming up its National Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (RADPLAN) to strengthen its ability to mitigate and respond to nuclear and radiological emergencies.
The RADPLAN aims to establish clear protocols, enhance inter-agency coordination and ensure alignment with international safety standards.
Under the Philippine Energy Plan, the country aims for a phased entry of nuclear energy into its power generation mix, beginning with 1,200 megawatts of capacity, with operations targeted to commence by 2032, rising to 2,600 MW by 2035 and 4,800 MW by 2050.
“This plan strengthens the country’s emergency response readiness, reducing risks from both internal and external nuclear and radiological hazards,” said Department of Energy director Nenito Jariel Jr., who leads the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) subcommittee on emergency planning.
The RADPLAN establishes clear procedures for public health and environment protection, while outlining coordinated response strategies for nuclear and radiological emergencies.
It addresses potential incidents from various sources, including non-power applications of nuclear and radiological technologies — such as medical diagnostics and industrial quality control.
It also enhances the country’s capacity to respond to nuclear incidents from power plants in neighboring countries, strengthening regional security.
Stakeholders recently completed the writeshop to refine the RADPLAN, which builds on previous initiatives.
