Proposed nuclear body gets Congress nod

The proposed Philippine Nuclear Regulatory Commission (PNRC) is gathering steam as the congressional committees on government reorganization and science and technology approved House Bill 03254 for plenary debate.

The proposal aims to form the PNRC and consolidate all agencies involved in nuclear energy research and regulation.

Among those that would be absorbed if the bill becomes law are the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) - Nuclear regulations, Licensing and Safeguards Division (NRLSD), and the Radiation Regulation Division (RRD).

The PNRI is under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) while the RRD is under the Department of Health's (DOH) Bureau of Health Devices and Technology.

The PNRC will also be led by one commissioner and two associate commissioners and will have five technical divisions and two non-technical divisions.

Like most government commission, the PNRC would be directly attached to the Office of the President.

Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya (1st District, Cavite), who chairs the committee on science and technology, explained that the PNRC would be tasked to regulate and control the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation sources.

Abaya, who co-authored HB 03254, added that the PNRC will also create guidelines for regulatory actions related to nuclear technology in the Philippines, in particular, public health concerns and environmental issues.

Abaya is also one of the proponents to re-commission the controversial Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which has been at the center of numerous debates over its technical and commercial viability after being mothballed for 25 years.