President Bongbong Marcos has signed Republic Act No. 12305, the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, a measure that pushes the Philippines closer to nuclear power but with strict safeguards to prevent abuse and accidents.
The law establishes the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority or PhilATOM, an independent quasi-judicial body that will act as the country’s nuclear watchdog. PhilATOM is mandated to protect the public and the environment from the dangers of radiation, regulate nuclear activities, and keep the Philippines aligned with international obligations under the International Atomic Energy Agency.
PhilATOM’s mandate is broad. It will oversee licensing, regulate the transport and disposal of radioactive materials, and work with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to prepare for nuclear emergencies.
The law carries heavy penalties for violations. Unauthorized construction, operation, or decommissioning of nuclear facilities is now a criminal act, as is the illegal trade, use, or testing of radioactive materials. Penalties include fines reaching up to ₱100 million and possible imprisonment.
The Philippines has flirted with nuclear power before. In the 1970s and 80s, the government poured $2.3 billion into the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, a 620-megawatt facility in Morong, Bataan. Completed in 1984, it was mothballed two years later due to safety fears after the Chernobyl disaster and allegations of corruption tied to the project. The plant never produced a single watt of electricity, but Filipinos are still paying for its debt decades later.
By contrast, neighbors in the region moved forward. South Korea operates 25 nuclear reactors that generate about 30 percent of its electricity, keeping its power mix stable and costs competitive. Japan, despite the Fukushima disaster, has restarted several reactors under strict safety rules. Vietnam suspended its nuclear build in 2016 but continues to train specialists for a possible restart in the future.
In the Philippines, electricity remains among the most expensive in Asia, largely because of heavy reliance on imported coal and natural gas. Energy experts estimate that adding nuclear power could cut generation costs by up to 20 to 40 percent, potentially lowering consumer electricity bills if safeguards against mismanagement are enforced.
With RA 12305, the country is no longer just debating “if” but preparing “how.” The challenge is whether the Philippines can finally turn decades of stalled ambition into real, affordable, and safe nuclear power.
