US Department of Energy Strengthens Cooperation with PNRI-DOST on Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Response Capabilities
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Left: Seated 1st row from left: PNRI OIC, Office of the Deputy Director and Nuclear Services Division Chief Dr. Christina Petrache, NNSA Associate Administrator for Office of Emergency Operations Joseph Krol Jr., Rear Admiral, US Navy (Ret.), PNRI Director Dr. Alumanda Dela Rosa and Mr. Vince McClelland of the NNSA.
2nd row from left: Ms. Rica Salcedo of the NNSA, Chemistry Research Section Head Dr. Lucille Abad, Senior Science Research Specialist Cecile De Vera, Finance and Administrative Division Chief Dr. Graceta Cuevas, Inspection and Enforcement Section Head Edgar Racho, Technology Diffusion Division OIC Ana Elena Conjares, Dr. Colin Okada of the NNSA and Kay Greenwell of the US Embassy in Manila.
Right: Dr. Okada of the NNSA (2nd from right) conducts a demonstration of various radiation detectors on May 7 with members of the PNRI Radiological Emergency Monitoring and Control (REMCON) Teams.
Officials from the United States Department of Energy – National Nuclear Safety Administration (US-DOE-NNSA) met with the officials of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute – Department of Science and Technology (PNRI-DOST) for the further cooperation between the two agencies in the field of emergency preparedness and response to nuclear and radiological emergencies.
The PNRI and the US DOE NNSA signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) on May 6, which includes collaboration on the development of emergency operation centers and community networks, atmospheric plume modeling, risk reduction, incident assessment, joint training and exercises. Both agencies also cooperate with and support each other under the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, particularly in activities on dealing with radiological dispersal devices (RDD’s), radioactive source recovery, nuclear/radiological search and consequence management.
Radiation-Related Research by PSHS Won Top Prize in Malaysia
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Students from Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Main Campus won the Gold Award and Special Jury Award for their thesis entitled "Radiation Synthesized Moelcularly Imprinted Polymers Targeting Quercetin in Aqueous Solutions" at the Malaysian International Young Inventors' Olympiad 2014 held from April 16 to 20 at Penang, Malaysia. The thesis was authored by Jamika Ann Roque (2nd from left), Eraño Jose Osorio (3rd from left) and Russel Avery Roco (not in photo). The results of the study showed that molecularly imprinted polymers demonstrated better adsorption than non-imprinted polymers as tested with the plant pigment quercetin. The students' advisers are Ms. Ana Victoria Lloren of PSHS and Ms. Ma. Llorina Rañada, Science Research Specialist I of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Chemistry Research Section (extreme left). Also in the photo are PNRI Director Dr. Alumanda Dela Rosa (2nd from right) and Chemistry Research Section Head Dr. Lucille Abad (extreme right). This research collaboration was made possible through the thesis/research advisorship program of the PNRI Nuclear Training Center.
IAEA Expert Presents Ecological Risk Analysis for Fukushima
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Left: International Atomic Energy Agency expert Dr. Ronald Szymczak delivered lectures on radiological risk analysis, marine radioactivity and the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Accident at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Atomic Research Division Lecture Series on April 10 and 14. Dr. Szymczak was formerly a radiochemical oceanographer for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO) and is presently an IAEA consultant and Lead Country Coordinator for RAS 7/021 project "Marine Benchmark Study on the Possible Impact of the Fukushima Radioactive Releases in the Asia-Pacific Region".
Right: Dr. Szymczak is awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by PNRI Atomic Research Division Chief Soledad Castañeda and Health Physics Research Section Head Teofilo Garcia.
VP Binay and PNRI Director Dela Rosa Attend Nuclear Security Summit 2014
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Philippine officials to the Nuclear Security Summit pose with Vice President of the Philippines Hon. Jejomar Binay (3rd from right); (L to R) Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) President Mr. Edgardo Lacson, Ms. Gina Ledda, PNRI Nuclear Safeguards and Security Section head Ms. Julietta Seguis, Ms. Mila Lacson, Ambassador to the Netherlands Mr. Jaime Victor Ledda, and PNRI Director Dr. Alumanda Dela Rosa. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice President)
Representing President Benigno Aquino III in the international stage, Vice President Jejomar Binay was joined by PNRI Director Alumanda Dela Rosa and Nuclear Safeguards and Security Section head Julieta Seguis at the 3rd Nuclear Security Summit at the Hague, Netherlands, on March 24-25, 2014. In his address to the Summit, the Vice President emphasized the need for nuclear security in the Philippines.
VP Binay reported on the Philippines' progress in improving our nuclear security infrastructure at all ports of entry and on-site facilities, legal framework, and emergency response, as well as in developing a nuclear security culture for all stakeholders responsible for radioactive and nuclear materials. He thanked the International Atomic Energy Agency for its continued support in maintaining the country's nuclear safety and security.
