While momentum in the nuclear energy sector is growing, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) noted that major icant progress hinges on the enactment of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Framework Bill (PhilAtom Bill).

In a briefing, Ronnie L. Aperocho, Meralco first vice president and head of networks, said the government plays a crucial role in advancing nuclear energy development in the Philippines.

The government is really a big partner, a major stakeholder… Without the PhilAtom bill, I think all we could do is to somehow conduct feasibility studies, train our people, [but] the major development [will be] the enactment [of the bill],” he told reporters.

“There have been representations already to the President [Ferdinand Marcos] to somehow accelerate the enactment of the bill. I think that’s on top of the priority of the President,” he added.

The PhilAtom Bill aims to establish a legal and regulatory framework for the safe and secure integration of nuclear energy in the Philippines. Once enacted, it would create a regulatory agency to oversee the development and operation of nuclear facilities.

Previously, Meralco launched the Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) program at the 2025 Meralco Giga Summit to support the government's pursuit of nuclear energy adoption.

"We know that nuclear energy is already a part of our power supply mix. We’re running out of time, of course, to get a nuclear power plant," he explained. "Hopefully, the bill will be passed by the Senate by June, so any delay in its enactment will definitely cause a major backlog in terms of hitting that target."

Beyond awaiting government approval, Aperocho assured that progress is being made in other areas, including enhancing manpower expertise and forging partnerships.

For instance, the company’s Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program has already sent five scholars to study nuclear engineering in China and the United States. This initiative aims to cultivate expertise to contribute to the Philippines’ nuclear endeavors.

"We’re starting the development of the talent pipeline. We already know for a fact we’ve sent out five scholars, and we’re sending another seven at the start of the academic year," Aperocho said. "We also signed this agreement with Electricité de France (EDF), primarily for the technical feasibility study, especially for one site or location. I think it’s very important because building a power plant in the Philippines... Public acceptance will be an issue."

Following the scholarly deployment, Meralco is also exploring small modular reactors (SMRs), self-contained nuclear reactors capable of operating independently or as part of a larger power grid, potentially bypassing the need for a large-scale plant like the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

"To build thousands of megawatts (MW) of a conventional power plant is a major challenge, but at Meralco, we are keen on the deployment of SMRs. The capacity range would be 300 to 450 MW," Aperocho elaborated.

According to the Meralco executive, they are closely monitoring an SMR development in Europe and could potentially join the effort if the reactor proves successful. However, he emphasized the need for support from the Department of Energy (DOE) to facilitate this.

"We’re monitoring this ongoing construction of the first-of-a-kind SMR in Romania. They claim that they can get this up and running by 2030, and once that target is met, definitely all other interested companies like us would be looking into the performance of the SMRs. If that proves to be okay, definitely we will join. But of course, cost is a very important consideration," he said.