GOVPH

PNRI'S REGULATORY DIVISION AND ADJUNCT SUPPORT UNITS CLINCH COVETED ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFICATION

Details

Published: 19 January 2009

The closing of the 36th Atomic Energy Week provided the backdrop to another year-end highlight to the activities of the Institute: the awarding of the Quality Management system ISO 9001:2000 certification to the Nuclear Regulations, Licensing and Safeguards Division and four other administrative support units of the Institute.

The award was presented by Certification International Phils., Inc., through its Managing Director, Mr. Renato Navarrete, during ceremonies held on December 12, 2008. The official handing over of the certificate was witnessed by DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro.

The event caps efforts that began in 2004, with the creation of a Committee on Quality Management System for NRLSD activities, and which snowballed in subsequent years with the conduct of seminars and workshops, led in particular by the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) on aspects such as documenting a Quality management System, Measurement of Customer Satisfaction, Productivity Improvement through 5S and Internal Quality Audit. The expert guidance of Dr. Danilo Pilar and Ms. Evelyn Gallardo, both of the MIRDC, also led to the development of the Quality Manual for the Institute’s regulatory division.

With the support of a DOST Grant-in-Aid project on “Establishment and Implementation of Quality Management System in Accordance with ISO 9001:2000” and after the successful hurdling of both internal and external audits conducted on the third and fourth quarters of 2008, the much-coveted certification was finally issued.

The privileged status attesting to the awardee’s compliance with the stringent quality and reliability requirements of the International Standards Organization is now enjoyed by PNRI’s regulatory division and the Finance and Administrative Division’s Accounting, Personnel, Property, and Motorpool Units. The accomplishment proudly gives flesh to the Executive Order issued by the President, on “Institutionalization of the Structure, Mechanisms and Standards to Implement the Government Quality management Program” and to the program on Integrated Management System being promoted by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Efforts are underway to have the other divisions of the Institute follow suit.

RED TIDE STUDIES BRING GOOD NEWS TO PNRI RESEARCHERS

Details

Published: 08 December 2008

Paralytic shellfish toxins from harmful algal blooms or the much-feared "red tide" - was a source of pride this time around as researchers of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (led by Ms. Elvira Z. Sombrito) gained international recognition for their studies on the bioaccumulation of the toxins in green mussels reported in a paper, "Use of Perna viridis as Bioindicator of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins at Low Pyrodinium bahamese var compressum using a Radioreceptor Assay"

The paper was recently voted as the Best Paper in the Aquatic Invertebrate category and was named as one of the top ten papers published to date in the Journal, Environmental Bioindicators

The all-Filipino authors whose work came out in Volume 2, Issue 4(2007) of the said Journal, includes Ms. E. Sombrito, Ms. Celestina Honrado, Ms. Azucena de Vera, Mr. Rhett Simon Tabbada, Ms. Llorina Rañada, Mr. J. Relox,Jr., and Ms. Merrian Tangonan.

Local expertise on harmful algal blooms has long been acknowledged, with the PNRI being designated as a collaborating Center of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for studies on Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB)and the host laboratory being recognized as a regional resource center for Receptor Binding Assay.

The Department of Science and Technology, which has constantly supported the Institute's research on HABs, has sent its congratulatory greetings to the authors

36th Atomic Energy Week Celebration Highlights the Beneficial Uses of Nuclear Science and Technology

Details

Published: 05 December 2008

The beneficial uses of nuclear science and technology in food and agriculture, health care, industry, energy, and the environment will be highlighted during the joint celebrations of the golden jubilee of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) and the 36th Atomic Energy Week (AEW) on December 8 to 12, 2008.

PNRI Director Dr. Alumanda M. dela Rosa said that the theme for this year's celebration is "PNRI @ 50: Making Nuclear Science and Technology Work for You."

The PNRI, formerly the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, was created by Republic Act 2067, known as the Science Act of 1958, which was the same law that created the National Science and Development Board, now the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on June 13, 1958.

The General Florencio A. Medina award will be launched on the opening ceremonies of the 36th AEW on December 8. Gen. Medina is considered as the Father of Atomic Energy in the Philippines.

The keynote speaker for the opening ceremonies is Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Elmer C. Hernandez, a former official of the PNRI. DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro, to be represented by DOST Undersecretary Fortunato T. dela Pena, will give a message.

According to Eulinia M. Valdezco, Chairperson, Executive Committee of the 36th AEW /PNRI 50th Jubilee celebrations, the highlights of the week-long golden jubilee and AEW celebrations are: the scientific sessions on December 9 to 11 organized with the relevant professional societies/organizations; the technical poster contest; National Science Quiz for high school students on December 10 and soft launching of new/upgraded laboratories and facilities at PNRI during the closing ceremonies on December 12. The laboratories/facilities that will be launched by DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro and DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Graciano P. Yumul are the following: the Environmental Isotope Center, Analytical Measurements Research laboratory, Carrageenan Hydrogel Pilot plant , Microbiology laboratory, Central Alarm System, Multipurpose Irradiation Facility and the Emergency Response Support Center.

The scientific sessions will feature the applications of nuclear science and technology in health care on December 9, nuclear S & T applications in food, industry and environment on December 10 and safety and security of nuclear S and T on December 11. Among the 18 topics to be discussed during the three-day scientific sessions are : The Role of Irradiation in Reducing Food Insecurity by Dr. Robert L. Griffin, Director, Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology of the United States Department of Agriculture; Nuclear Energy in Power Generation by Pio J. Buenanavidez, Sr., Vice-President of National Power Corporation; The Need to Revisit the Linear Non-Threshold (LNT) Theory as Basis for Health Effects of Low Dose Radiation by Dr. Carlito R. Aleta, former PNRI Director and Coordinator of the International Atomic Energy Agency-Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA); Safety and Security of Radiation Sources: Global Threat by Eulinia M. Valdezco, Chief of PNRI’s Nuclear Regulations, Licensing and Safeguards Division; and Philippine Nuclear S & T @ 50 and Beyond by PNRI Director Alumanda M. dela Rosa.

Thousands of students and teachers are expected to visit the PNRI who will be availing themselves of the guided tours, film showing, interactive exhibits and the educational game of radioactive source hunting.

For more information about the activities for the 36th Atomic Energy Week celebration, please call Eulinia M. Valdezco, 2008 AEW Executive Committee Chairperson, 920 8796 or 929 6010 to 19 local 213 or Rhoda R. Leonin/Tina S. Cerbolles, Information Officers, 920-8787 or 929-6011 to 19 loc. 286, or you could email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..