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 (DOST) have been pushing to address many of the pressing issues in our S&T landscape," according to DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.

The PhilATOM, he added, 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 DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla. “The passing of the PhilATOM bill will help usher in the integration of nuclear power in the Philippine energy mix, helping provide dependable baseload and reliable electricity to consumers and the industry.”

Consistent with international standards, the law separates the regulatory functions from the promotion, research, and development functions of the DOST-PNRI, previously the regulatory body for nuclear and radioactive materials and their associated facilities and activities.

The measure also incorporates the prior mandate of the Food and Drug Administration-Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research (FDA-CDRRHR), which is in charge of devices that electrically generate ionizing radiation, such as x-ray devices, linear accelerators, and electron beam facilities.

Unifying all ionizing radiation sources under one regulatory supervision will also bring about ease in doing business and ensure harmony and consistency in implementing and enforcing regulations for the radiation protection of workers, patients, members of the public, and the environment.

The bill also has fresh provisions on nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, and emergency preparedness and response, reflecting the country’s commitment in fulfilling its long-standing obligations to the IAEA and the international community through various treaties, conventions, and other agreements.

At the House of Representatives, 200 lawmakers voted in favor of approving House Bill 9293 on third reading in November 2023. The effort was spearheaded by Congressman Mark Cojuangco, the bill’s principal sponsor and also chair of the House Special Committee on Nuclear Energy.

Two years later, in 2025, its counterpart, Senate Bill 2899, passed another three readings in the upper house with 22 affirmative votes. The sponsorship speech was delivered by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.

Both houses ratified the conference committee reports last June, followed by transmittal to the President in August.

“We thank the great efforts of DOST, DOST-PNRI, FDA, DOE, and Congressional staff of both houses who spent many hours crafting the bill, which has been pending for almost twenty years,” said DOST-PNRI Director Arcilla.

Legislative efforts on science, technology, and innovation, such as the PhilATOM bill is one of the many initiatives supported by the DOST aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions, Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.pnri.dost.gov.ph