The Philippines has updated its National Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (RadPlan) to align emergency arrangements with the country’s new nuclear regulatory framework and strengthen whole-of-government coordination.

The revised RadPlan was finalized during a two-day writeshop held in Pasay City from July 9 to 10, led by the Department of Energy (DOE) through the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC).

The activity brought together nearly 100 representatives from national government agencies involved in emergency preparedness, disaster response, public safety, health, security, and public information.

“The review of the RadPlan strengthens our coordination mechanisms and ensures that our emergency response arrangements remain practical, effective, and responsive,” Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo said.

The revised plan defines clearer roles, responsibilities, and operational procedures for national government agencies, local government units, and emergency response organizations in managing nuclear and radiological emergencies.

It also provides operational guidance for four priority scenarios: an incident at a nuclear facility, a lost or stolen radioactive source, a radiological dispersal device or other malicious act, and a transnational nuclear or radiological emergency.

The DOE said the updated plan includes a comprehensive concept of operations that outlines how response activities will be coordinated from initial notification through recovery.

In practical terms, the RadPlan is meant to guide which agencies take action, how they coordinate, and how responsibilities are handed over as an incident moves from initial response to recovery.

The updated RadPlan also strengthens coordination between the country’s crisis management and disaster response systems.

While earlier versions focused mainly on consequence management, the revised plan now includes protocols for coordination with tactical and investigative operations led by government security agencies.

These include joint notification procedures, the establishment of a joint assessment cell, clearly defined handover triggers between the National Crisis Management Committee and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and a standardized handover declaration process.

The updated plan also reflects institutional reforms under Republic Act No. 12305, or the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act.

The law establishes the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilAtom) as the country’s independent nuclear regulatory body, while the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) transitions from its previous dual mandate to serve as a technical support organization.

The revised RadPlan realigns agency responsibilities and emergency response clusters to reflect these institutional changes.

Participating agencies also agreed to establish a technical working group under the NDRRMC Preparedness Pillar to support the continued refinement and implementation of the RadPlan. They also endorsed the formal inclusion of PhilAtom as a member of the NDRRMC once the regulatory authority is fully established.

Republic Act No. 12305 requires the formulation of a national plan to protect the public during nuclear and radiological emergencies arising from incidents inside or outside Philippine territory. The law also mandates that the plan be integrated into the operational framework of the NDRRMC.

The DOE said the updated RadPlan reinforces the country’s readiness to respond to nuclear and radiological emergencies while promoting stronger inter-agency coordination, public safety, and compliance with international nuclear emergency preparedness standards.

How can the Philippines further strengthen emergency preparedness as it builds its nuclear governance framework?

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