DOST-PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla (10th from right) with IAEA experts, representatives from IAEA Member States in the Asia-Pacific region and PNRI officials and staff during the First Coordination Meeting for IAEA Project RAS9089
PNRI Hosts 1st Coordination Meeting on Strengthening Radiation Safety Infrastructure in Asia and the Pacific
Addressing the need for continuous improvement of radiation safety in the Asia-Pacific Region, the Philippines hosted the first coordination meeting for a new Technical Cooperation Project of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Thirty six (36) participants from 19 countries in the region, including regulators and technical staff from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) and Department of Health-Food and Drug Administration-Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research (DOH-FDA-CDRRHR), met with IAEA project management and technical officers to convene the First Coordination Meeting for the IAEA Project RAS9089 on Strengthening Radiation Safety Infrastructure on April 16 - 20, 2018, Novotel Hotel, Quezon City.
Among the Member States who participated are Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
The project aims to spur each country’s progress in their radiation safety infrastructure, eventually leading to full compliance with the IAEA safety standards.
These efforts cover four (4) thematic safety areas (TSAs): TSA 1 –regulatory infrastructure; TSA 3 – radiation protection and safety of patients; TSA 4- radiation protection of public and environment; and TSA 5- emergency preparedness and response, with the objective to achieve greater than 80% improvement of the indicators as reflected in IAEA Radiation Safety Information System (RASIMS).
Through the regional project on strengthening radiation safety infrastructure, the IAEA Member States will have an important platform to harmonize these efforts. It will also lead to an exchange of technical expertise and experiences between countries, and facilitate collaboration between countries with similar priorities and concerns, with the IAEA providing the necessary technical assistance, through expert missions, workshops, fellowships, and equipment.
By the meeting’s end, the participating Member States have finalized their national project team members, action plans and regional activities to be implemented from 2018 to 2021.
The PNRI serves as the country’s regulatory body for radioactive materials and facilities. Under Republic Act 5027 or the Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act of 1968, no person can use, own, possess or transport nuclear and radioactive materials without a license from the former Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, which later became the PNRI.
The Philippines became a Member State of the IAEA in 1958.
