Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is filing a Senate bill that will put in place extensive nuclear energy regulations to guarantee the security and safety of its usage.

In a report by Inquirer, Gatchalian said that while nuclear energy has helped other developed countries’ energy sectors, instances of safety breaches emphasize the need for implementing this bill to secure the safety and disciplined use of nuclear energy. 

Additionally, the legal structure ought to align with the country’s objectives and needs, as well as the Philippines’ global commitments. 

Filed in early December, Gatchalian’s Senate Bill No. 2506 aimed to ensure that all activities are carried out within a framework of authorization, continuous monitoring, and enforcement. 

For this reason, Gatchalian proposed the creation of an independent and transparent central nuclear regulatory body under the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Commission. 

Prior to these efforts, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that the government was looking into the potential of utilizing nuclear energy to avert a national power outage.