DESIGN BASIS THREAT WORKSHOP IN PNRI
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The Philippine Government through the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) will host a Design Basis Threat (DBT) Workshop in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on 27-29 April 2004 at the PNRI Auditorium.
The workshop aims to assist the Philippines in defining attributes or characteristics of potential insider and external adversaries who might attempt unauthorized removal or sabotage of nuclear and radioactive material.
Lecturers and facilitators include Mr. Guy Jones, Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA and Mr. Peter Colgan of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Australia. The IAEA Technical Coordinator is Mr. Pierre Legoux and Workshop Coordinator is Ms. Julietta Seguis of the Safeguards Unit of the Nuclear Regulations Licensing and Safeguards Division (NRLSD) of PNRI.
The expected participants of the workshop will include national and local enforcement officers, police, state intelligence services, nuclear facility operators and other competent authorities.
PNRI in 26th Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) National Representatives Meeting (NRM)
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Dr. Alumanda M. dela Rosa, PNRI Director, represented the Philippines in the 26th Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) National Representatives Meeting (NRM), held at the Holiday Inn, Islamabad, Pakistan, 12-15 April 2004. The meeting agenda included the RCA issues and challenges, main achievements in 2003, potential for partnerships with development agencies, 32nd RCA General Conference Report, RCA Annual Report for 2003, and the RCARO Initiated Programmes. (RCARO is the RCA Regional Office located in Korea.). The participants of this meeting included National RCA Representatives of the 17 Member States.
Prior to the NRM, the 5th RCARO Advisory Committee (AC) met on April 11, 2004 at the Holiday Inn in Islamabad, Pakistan. The participants included representatives of Australia, China, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the IAEA/RCA Coordinator.
The AC meeting came up with a recommendation formally endorsing the RCARO-initiated new programmes, i.e. the Post-Doctoral Fellowship programme, the KAIST Nuclear Engineering Master's Degree Course and the KOICA Nuclear Medicine Internship Training Programme. The AC commended RCARO for increasing RCA awareness and promoting RCA partnerships in the region. The meeting elected Dr. John F. Easey, Senior Principal Researcher from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO) as the new Chair of RCARO AC.
A Scientific Forum, aimed to create awareness of the contributions that RCA programs make to address development issues in the region, was held on 13 April 2004.
Recent Expert Missions to PNRI
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Dr. Ramesh Dayal, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Officer for the Technical Cooperation (TC) Project, "Site Selection and Conceptual Design of a Near Surface Disposal Facility for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste in the Philippines", undertook a mission from 22-26 March 2004. He discussed the progress of the project including current work plans and activities. The feasibility of borehole technology for spent sealed sources was also discussed and for this purpose he conducted a seminar on the said technology. The mission local counterparts were Ms. Eulinia Valdezco, NRLSD Chief and Ms. Marvie Palattao, Senior Science Research Specialist.
Mr. Graham Smith, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert on licensing and regulations for the TC Project, "Site Selection and Conceptual Design of a Near Surface Disposal Facility for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste in the Philippines", visited PNRI from 29 March - 2 April 2004. After discussions and review of the project, he recommended appropriate regulations, guides and criteria for waste disposal; and helped develop a procedure for evaluating license applications and guidelines for performance assessment modeling. He also conducted a seminar on licensing and regulations on radioactive waste disposal. The mission local counterparts were Ms. Eulinia Valdezco, NRLSD Chief and Ms. Marvie Palattao, Senior Science Research Specialist.
Dr. Bernido is PNRI Deputy Director
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Dr. Corazon C. Bernido was appointed as Deputy Director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. She took her oath of office last March 16, 2004 before the Honorable Dr. Estrella F. Alabastro, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.
Dr. Bernido got her Bachelors Degree in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Spirit in Manila with Cum Laude honors. She placed tenth during the 1969 Philippine Board Exams for Chemists.
Dr. Bernido served as Supervising Science Research Specialist at the Nuclear Training Section and Officer-in-Charge of the Nuclear Services and Training Division of PNRI prior to her appointment. She served as member of the Board of Examiners for Chemistry of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) from 1993 to January 2004.
Dr. Bernido holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute in New York with specialization in nuclear chemistry. Her other specializations and previous work in the nuclear and associated fields include nuclear spectroscopy; uranium (and associated elements) recovery and processing; uranium analysis by Delayed Neutron Activation Analysis (DNAA), Fluorimetry and Laser Excited Fluorescence; trace element analysis using Xray Fluorescence (XRF) and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). She has also vast experience in Nuclear Science and Technology manpower development and training and in Non-destructive Testing Manpower development and training.
