Cojuangco hails Cayetano’s support for landmark nuclear energy bill
Second District Rep. Mark Cojuangco cited Senator Alan Peter Cayetano for his key role in the passage of the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, which creates the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM), a milestone in the country’s energy policy.
The bill, now ratified by both chambers of Congress, awaits the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to become law.
“From a simple idea rooted in our shared dream to help the country, we began this journey back in the 14th Congress,” Cojuangco wrote in a Facebook post on June 16. “Thanks to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s strong support, this measure was introduced and carried through the Senate.”
The Act, embodied in House Bill 9293 and Senate Bill 2899, establishes PhilATOM as an independent regulatory authority with exclusive jurisdiction over all aspects of nuclear safety. Its responsibilities will include licensing, safety inspections, radioactive waste management, and emergency preparedness, which were previously under the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).
Cojuangco, chair of the House Special Committee on Nuclear Energy, has long advocated for the establishment of a distinct regulatory agency, in line with international standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Cayetano, who sponsored the Senate bill, emphasized in his December 2024 sponsorship speech the wide-reaching benefits of nuclear energy in healthcare, agriculture, and climate change impact mitigation, stressing the need to responsibly harness atomic energy while ensuring public safety on an international level. (Eva Visperas)
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