The Philippines hosted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Nuclear Emergency Notification and Communication Exercise from July 6 to 8 in Metro Manila, bringing together ASEAN Member States and international partners to test regional coordination during a simulated nuclear or radiological emergency.

The exercise was organized by the Department of Energy (DOE) in its capacity as chair of the Nuclear Energy Program–Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC).

The DOE said the activity validated regional emergency response arrangements under the ASEAN Protocol for Preparedness and Response to a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency.

It also underscored the Philippines’ leadership under its 2026 ASEAN Chairship by advancing regional cooperation on nuclear emergency preparedness and cross-border emergency response.

Participants from the Philippines included the DOE, Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI), Office of Civil Defense, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Presidential Communications Office, and other NEP-IAC member agencies.

The exercise also brought together delegates from ASEAN Member States and international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Commission, ASEAN Centre for Energy, ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy, Nuclear Energy Cooperation Sub-Sector Network, and ENCO Consulting.

“The ASEAN nature of this exercise is particularly important because nuclear and radiological emergencies do not recognize national borders. Our ability to work together, exchange information efficiently, and communicate consistently across jurisdictions is fundamental to protecting our people and our environment,” DOE Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo said.

The three-day drill simulated a regional nuclear or radiological emergency and tested how ASEAN Member States would notify one another, exchange technical information, coordinate protective actions, and communicate timely and accurate information to the public.

The simulation covered five major phases: declaration of emergency and initial national response, ASEAN notification and information exchange, field measurements and protective action decision-making, public information and communication, and a live press conference simulation.

Activities included technical and policy briefings, preparatory discussions among national and ASEAN delegations, field response operations at DOST-PNRI in Quezon City, a regional rumor management simulation, and evaluation sessions to identify operational gaps in regional response mechanisms.

The exercise built on the Philippines’ previous hosting of the Nuclear Detection Exercise, or MITSATOM 2025, and was proposed as one of the flagship activities under the country’s 2026 ASEAN Chairship.

“While we continue to pursue the safe, secure, and responsible integration of nuclear energy, preparedness remains one of our foremost responsibilities. Timely, accurate, and coordinated information-sharing protects the public, supports informed decision-making, and strengthens public confidence in our nuclear preparedness efforts,” Bacordo said.

Can stronger regional coordination help build public confidence in the Philippines’ nuclear energy readiness?

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