House Committee on Nuclear Energy Chairman Pangasinan 2nd district Rep. Mark Cojuangco has welcomed the enactment of his pet measure, Republic Act (RA) No.12305, also known as the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act or the PhilATOM Law.

In a statement, Cojuangco says the new law is "a bold step toward a cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable energy future".

At the center of this new framework is the creation of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory and Safety Authority (PhilATOM). PhilATOM will serve as the independent regulator of all nuclear and radiation activities in the country, ensuring compliance with the highest international standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

It will also act as the Philippines' official point of contact for nuclear and radiological emergencies, strengthening ties with global partners and boosting the country's standing as a credible, responsible nuclear nation.

The enactment of the measure is the fruit of more than two decades of advocacy by Cojuangco, who has long championed the inclusion of nuclear energy in the country's energy mix.

"Ito ay magdudulot ng annual national savings worth billions of dollars dahil kung magkakaroon tayo ng nuclear energy, mababawasan ang pag-angkat ng coal at LNG (liquefied natural gas) mula sa ibang bansa," he said.

(This will result to annual national savings worth billions of dollars because if we can tap nuclear energy, we can cut down on coal and LNG imports.)

"Bukod dito, tayo ay patungo sa ganap na fossil fuel independence, sa pagkakaroon ng marami at magagandang trabaho, at nawa'y matuldukan natin ankahirapan sa bansa dahil naniniwala ako na nuclear energy ang sagot sa taon-taon nating pagkakaroon ng energy crisis," noted Cojuangco.

(Aside from this, we are moving toward complete fossil fuel independence, toward having many good jobs, and may we finally put an end to poverty in the country because I believe that nuclear energy is the answer to our recurring yearly energy crisis.)

Cojuangco noted that the law's passage was also timely, with public sentiment strongly in favor of nuclear energy.

Laat year, the Social Weather Stations SWS) submitted to the Department of Energy (DOE) its commissioned Public Perception Survey on Nuclear Energy in the Philippines, conducted from May 6 to 24, 2024.

The results showed a national net approval rating of 66 percent, up from 62 percent in 2019, when discussions on commissioning the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP-1) were active. The survey covered nationwide acceptance, including Bataan province, home of the PNPP-1.

With RA No. 12305 now in effect, the Philippines has laid the groundwork for a new era of energy security, independence, and opportunity, Cojuangco said.