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Public Information Activities

in Radwaste Management

The Philippine Experience

Rhodora R. Leonin - PNRI

Angelina B. Resurreccion- Business Mirror

*IAEA Training Meeting on

Building Partnership In Waste

Disposal Programme

Kuala Lumpur, 31 Oct.-Nov.2. 2011

Presentation Outline

Introduction: Nuclear Energy Development

in the Philippines

PNRI Mandate and Organizational Structure

PNRI Interim Radioactive Waste Facility

Information Activities on Radioactive Waste

Management

Challenges

Nuclear Energy Development

in the Philippines

1958: Republic Act 2067 created the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), now the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).

1959: PAEC established the first set of regulations on the use of radioactive materials; the Philippines also became a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

1960s onwards: research and manpower training for various nuclear energy applications were undertaken.

1969: R.A. 5207 was passed giving PAEC the power to issue licenses in construction, possession or operation of any atomic energy facility in the Philippines.


in the Philippines

Early 60s till the mid-80s: in addition to its various agricultural, biomedical, environmental and industrial applications, nuclear energy was also considered for power generation. Hence, a power program led to the construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

1986: However, the government of Pres. Corazon Aquino decided to mothball the BNPP


in the Philippines

REASONS WHY BNPP WAS MOTHBALLED:

Change in the government (Former President Cory Aquino

fulfilled a pre-election campaign promise to the people of Bataan,

that if elected she would not allow operation of the plant)

In the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident

Nuclear Development

in the Philippines

PNRI Mandate

Since 1958 - The Philippine Nuclear Research

Institute (PNRI) has been the center of nuclear

science and technology activities in the country.

PNRI is tasked with the dual role of promoting as

well as regulating the safe and peaceful uses of

nuclear science and technology in the Philippines.

PNRI is one of the research institutes under the

Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Finance and

Administrative

Division

• Human Resource

Management and

Records and

Communication

Section

• Budget Section

• Accounting

Section

• Property and

Procurement

Section

• Cash Section

• General Services

Section

Atomic

Research

Division

• Agriculture Research

Section

• Biomedical Research

Section

• Health Physics

Research

Section

• Applied Physics

Research Section

• Chemistry Research

Section

• Nuclear Materials

Research

Section

Nuclear

Services

Division

• Nuclear Reactor

Operation

Section

• Engineering Services

Section

• Irradiation Services

Section

• Radiation Protection

Services

• Nuclear Analytical

Techniques

Application

Section

• Isotope Techniques

Section

Nuclear

Regulatory

Division

• Regulations and

Standards

Development

Section

• Licensing, Review

and Evaluation

Section

• Inspection and

Enforcement

Section

• Nuclear Safeguards

and Security

Section

• Radiological Impact

Assessment

Section

Technology

Diffusion

Division

• International

Cooperation

Section

• Nuclear Training

Center

• Nuclear Information

and Documentation

Section

• Business

Development

Section

• MIS and IT

Section

Office of the Director

• Planning Section

Office of the Deputy Director

PNRI Interim Radioactive Waste

Facility

To ensure proper and safe management of spent or

unused radioactive sources, PNRI maintains and

operates a National Management Facility at PNRI.

Licensed Users of Radioactive

Materials

As of FY 2010

Commercial establishments – 35

Clinics and hospitals – 90

Industry – 138

Industrial radiography – 25

Research institutions -22

Establishment of a National

Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility

PNRI worked extensively with

the local government to ensure

acceptance of the preferred site

for the proposed disposal project.

A resolution was obtained to

facilitate the implementation of all

scientific, technical and related

activities at the site.


PNRI’s Information,

Education and

Communication Efforts

PNRI conducts outreach

seminars in study site for

better understanding of

nuclear science and

technology.

Photos: Opening

ceremonies of the nuclear

awareness seminar in study

site (located in the

northernmost part of the

Philippines)


DOST official

(extreme right)

and PNRI

team with

local officials

(2nd from right )

Teachers and students learn about radiation

detection by using survey meterA local official asks a question during the

open forum


Do radioactive wastes form leachate once they are

buried or disposed underground?

What are the environmental effects of radioactive

wastes?

After the treatment of the radioactive wastes, where

do you usually dispose it?

Some of the Questions Asked About

Radioactive Waste During the Open Forum


Other Activities

Concerns/Expectations of the Local Community

Meeting/Dialogue with local officials in the study site

Lectures

Exhibition

Safety of the proposed facility

Benefits/incentives to local community, such as employment,

development of government infrastructures, increase in tax

collection, among others

Sustainability in the management of the facility

Security of the facility

Nuclear

Awareness

Seminars

Development

of Materials

Linkages

Participation

In S&T Events

Guided Tour

of Facilities

Public Information Activities:


Multimedia CD on the Atom, Radiation and

Radioactivity

Common Concerns/ Issues

• Health and environmental effects of radiation

• Radioactive waste disposal

• Nuclear power plant operation and safety

• Reasons why Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was not operated

• Nuclear safety and security


•Nuclear Awareness Seminars

Lecture, forum,

Guided Tour of Visitors

Lecture-demonstration on radiation detection ;

environmental radioactivtity monitoring

Atomic Energy Week


Objectives:

• To promote public

awareness, understanding,

and appreciation of science

and technology

• To provide a forum for the

discussion of S & T issues

• Members are: journalists

covering science and

technology and government

information officers

Linkages: Philippine Science Journalists Association,

Inc. (PSciJourn)


Press Conference – DOST and PNRI Offcials

Questions/Issues:

Technical capability of the Philippines

to operate/maintain a nuclear power plant

Radioactive waste disposal

Health and environmental safety

Cost

Time frame – planning, construction and

operation of power plant

Updates on the Bataan Nuclear Power

Plant

Nuclear safety


Dialogue with the Media

• Discussion/suggestions include the need for seminars/training for media people such as nuclear science simplification seminars and short training courses for science writers/reporters



TV and radio

interviews

Press releases

Feature stories

Legal and regulatory team Public information and consultation team

Electric market and generation mix assessment teamEnvironmental assessment team

Technical, commercial and policy Economic and technology localization

assessment team

Siting teamManpower development team

Technical Consultants

Technical Secretariat

NPP technology and fuel cycle assessment team

Technical Working Group

Inter-Agency Core Group

on Nuclear Energy

DOE & DoST Secretaries & Undersecretaries

Inter-Agency Core Group

on Nuclear Energy


Nuclear Seminar for the Members of the Philippine

Science Journalists and Visit to the Bataan Nuclear

Power Plant

Challenges

Pending Bill on the proposed National Policy on

Radioactive Waste

Lack of Financial Resources

Change in local government leaders hinders

continuity in implementation of the program

Continuing Human Resources Development

Thank Yu!

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