Equipment Will Help Thwart Attempts to Smuggle Components for Nuclear Weapons and "Dirty Bombs" through Seaports
Manila - The United States and Philippine Governments today signed an agreement to install special equipment at the Port of Manila to detect hidden shipments of nuclear and other radioactive material. This agreement will further strengthen their work together in the war on terrorism.
United States Charge d'Affaires Joseph A. Mussomeli signed the cooperative agreement on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) with Secretary Estrella Alabastro of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology (D0ST). "The United States and the Philippines both recognize the need to remain vigilant against the threat posed by the trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials through the global maritime shipping network," said Chargé d'Affaires Mussomeli. "This initiative is yet another example of the excellent cooperation in the overall relationship between the United States and the Philippines, and will further our mutual international nonproliferation and anti-terrorist efforts."
Secretary Alabastro said, "This is one big stride in strengthening the world's nuclear security regime. The increased capacity of the Philippines to prevent illicit movements of radioactive sources will impact the global monitoring systems. It also supports our national effort to enhance and strengthen the safety and security of radioactive sources under the regulatory control of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute."
The U.S. - Philippines agreement falls under the Department of Energy, (DOE) NNSA Megaports Initiative, which is designed to work with foreign governments to deter, detect and interdict illicit shipments of nuclear and radioactive materials. The Philippines will be one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to utilize this type of detection system. The specialized radiation detection technology was developed by DOE laboratories as part of overall U.S. nuclear security efforts to guard against the proliferation of nuclear weapons material.
The Megaports Initiative supports foreign countries in deploying radiation detection capability at key seaports to screen cargo containers for nuclear and other radioactive materials.
