Call for papers for the 4th Philippine Nuclear Research and Development Conference
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Call for papers for the 4th Philippine Nuclear Research and Development Conference
The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PNRI) announces the 4th Philippine Nuclear Research and Development Conference (PNRDC 2025) to be held on December 10-11, 2025 at the PNRI Auditorium, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman Quezon City.
This year’s conference coincides with the 53rd Atomic Energy Week (AEW) celebration, making it a significant event for the nuclear science community.
PNRDC 2025 will bring together leading experts and researchers in the country to share the latest advancements in nuclear research, development, and innovation. The conference aims to foster dialogue on nuclear science, technology, and policy, creating a platform for engagement among researchers, policymakers, and the public.
PNRDC 2025 will partner with a Scopus-indexed journal to publish a special issue on Nuclear Science and Technology. This special issue will feature full-paper versions of selected presentations from the conference, subject to the journal’s peer-review process.
Researchers, academics, and professionals are invited to submit abstracts for possible oral or poster presentations at the conference. The PNRDC offers a valuable opportunity to showcase research to a national audience and contribute to the dialogue on the future of nuclear science and technology.
Please send abstracts to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on or before October 15, 2025. Extended abstract template can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/2ed8c2h9 and abstract submission guidelines can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/4hk5wjhp
For other inquiries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Philippines passes RA 12305, the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act (PhilAtom Law)
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(Photo from Rep. Mark Cojuangco's FB page)
Philippines passes RA 12305, the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act (PhilAtom Law)
A historic milestone led by Cong. Mark Cojuangco’s decades-long advocacy
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has taken a bold step toward a cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable energy future with the enactment of Republic Act 12305, also known as the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act or the PhilAtom Law.
This landmark law lays the foundation for the safe and responsible use of nuclear energy in the country. Beyond generating electricity, nuclear energy can power industries, support advanced medical treatments, boost agricultural productivity, and fuel scientific innovation. At the same time, the law makes it clear: nuclear power in the Philippines will be used exclusively for peaceful purposes, strictly prohibiting the development of nuclear explosives or radiological weapons.
At the center of this new framework is the creation of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory and Safety Authority (PhilATOM). PhilATOM will serve as the independent regulator of all nuclear and radiation activities in the country, ensuring compliance with the highest international standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It will also act as the Philippines’ official point of contact for nuclear and radiological emergencies, strengthening ties with global partners and boosting the country’s standing as a credible, responsible nuclear nation.
The passage of this law is the fruit of more than two decades of advocacy by Pangasinan 2nd District Congressman Mark O. Cojuangco, who has long championed the inclusion of nuclear energy in the country’s energy mix.
Cong. Cojuangco expressed his vision for the law, saying: “Ito ay isang hakbang patungo sa mura, malinis at maaasahang kuryente. Ito ay magdudulot ng annual national savings worth billions of dollars dahil kung magkakaroon tayo ng nuclear energy, mababawasan ang pag-angkat ng coal at liquified natural gas mula sa ibang bansa. Bukod dito, tayo ay patungo sa ganap na fossil fuel independence, sa pagkakaroon ng marami at magagandang trabaho, at nawa’y matuldukan natin ang kahirapan sa bansa dahil naniniwala ako na nuclear energy ang sagot sa taon-taon nating pagkakaroon ng energy crisis. Kaya ngayon na po sana DOE!”
The law’s passage is also timely, with public sentiment strongly in favor of nuclear energy. On September 13, 2024, the Social Weather Stations submitted to the Department of Energy (DOE) its commissioned Public Perception Survey on Nuclear Energy in the Philippines, conducted from May 6–24, 2024. The results showed a national net approval rating of 66 percent, up from 62 percent in 2019, when discussions on commissioning the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (also called the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant or PNPP-1) were active. The survey covered nationwide acceptance, including Bataan province, home of the PNPP-1.
With RA 12305 now in effect, the Philippines has laid the groundwork for a new era of energy security, independence, and opportunity. At its heart is Cong. Mark Cojuangco’s vision of nuclear power as a lasting solution to the country’s recurring energy crises, a vision that has now become law. (From the Office of Rep. Mark Cojuangco)
PBBM signs law for nuclear regulatory authority
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Congressman Mark Cojuangco, House Special Committee on Nuclear Energy Chairperson, spearheaded the PhilATOM bill at the House of Representatives
Then-Senate President Francis Escudero and Deputy Speaker Roberto Puno announcing the approval of the Conference Committee Report for the PhilATOM bill in their respective houses of Congress on June 11, 2025.
PBBM signs law for nuclear regulatory authority
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., signed into law the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, better known as the PhilATOM bill, on September 18, 2025 months after its long-awaited passage and ratification by Congress.
PhilATOM refers to the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, an independent nuclear regulatory agency covering all sources of ionizing radiation that will ensure safety, security, and safeguards on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy throughout the country, including power generation.
"The approval of the PhilATOM bill is yet another of the landmark measures that we at the Department of Science and Technology have been pushing to address many of the pressing issues in our S&T landscape," according to DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
"The PhilATOM will continue to ensure the safe and peaceful use of nuclear science, and its application to health, agriculture, and industry, aside from power."
“This legislation aligns the nuclear regulation in the Philippines with international standards, and satisfies a main requirement of potential nuclear power operators to have an independent regulatory body,” according to PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla.
“The passing of the PhilATOM bill will help usher the integration of nuclear power in the Philippine energy mix, helping provide dependable baseload and reliable electricity to consumers and the industry.”
Philippines Highlights Nuclear Science and Technology Leadership at the 69th IAEA General Conference
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DOST Undersecretary Maridon O. Sahagun delivers the Philippine national statement at the 69th IAEA General Conference
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi (center) with DOST Undersecretary Maridon O. Sahagun and PNRI Director Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla (left), and H.E. Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo Bernas, Philippine Permanent Representative to the IAEA (right), during the bilateral meeting with the Philippine delegation
Philippines Highlights Nuclear Science and Technology Leadership at the 69th IAEA General Conference
Vienna, Austria – The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to advance national development through the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology at the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held from 15 to 19 September 2025 in Vienna, Austria.
This year’s delegation showcased the country’s broad and coordinated participation. Officials from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Agriculture (DA), a representative from the private sector, and the Philippine Mission in Vienna represented the country, with DOST Undersecretary Maridon O. Sahagun leading the delegation on behalf of DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr.
In delivering the Philippine national statement, Undersecretary Sahagun stressed the importance of bringing nuclear science closer to the people.
“We have already made strides and are more determined to ensure that technology derived from nuclear applications are not confined to laboratories but deployed and scaled up to enhance food security, preserve human and animal health, protect ecosystems, and strengthen our industries,” she affirmed.
She also announced that the Philippines will host the first International High-Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics this November in Manila, a global event tackling plastic pollution with nuclear solutions.
