Philippines leads regional talks on nuclear safety, peaceful use

• Heads of delegations for the 2026 Annual Meeting of the ASEANTOM 2026 pose for the traditional ASEAN handshake. (From left to right) H.E. Thiphasone Sengsourinha, ambassador of the Embassy of Lao PDR; Noraishah Pungut, director general of the Department of Atomic Energy (ATOM Malaysia); Duong Hong Nat of Viet Nam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS); Dr. Vallerie Ann I. Samson, officer-in-charge, DOST-PNRI and chair of ASEANTOM 2026; Kok Kiat Ang, group director of the National Environment Agency of Singapore; Nur al-Ain binti Dr Haji Abdullah, director of the Legal Services Division of Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA) of Brunei Darussalam; Haendra Subekti, deputy chairman of the Nuclear Safety Assessment of the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN) of Indonesia; and Thi Thanh Thao Nguyen, assistant director of the ASEAN Secretariat.

The Philippines has taken the lead in advancing regional cooperation on nuclear safety, security, and emergency preparedness as Southeast Asian regulators gathered in Manila for the 13th Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy (ASEANTOM).

Hosted by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI), the three-day meeting brought together nuclear regulatory authorities from ASEAN Member States, along with international partners, to strengthen coordination as countries explore and expand the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology.

The Philippines, as chair and host of ASEANTOM 2026, led plenary discussions covering regulatory oversight, nuclear security, environmental radiation monitoring, emergency preparedness and response, and efforts to prevent the illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.

Dr. Vallerie Ann I. Samson, officer-in-charge of DOST-PNRI and chair of ASEANTOM 2026, said closer cooperation remains critical as nuclear technologies continue to develop across the region.

“As we gather to deliberate on the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, our shared commitment to robust nuclear safety, security, and safeguards remain paramount. This meeting provides us an opportunity to strengthen our regional cooperation, review our action plans, and advance our collective preparedness,” Samson said.

Among the key initiatives highlighted during the meeting was the ASEAN Nuclear Emergency Notification and Communications Exercise, or AR/NeX 2026, ASEANTOM’s flagship project for the year.

The exercise tested how ASEAN countries would coordinate during a simulated nuclear or radiological emergency, including regional notifications, radiation measurements, decisions on protective actions, and public communications.

For the first time, the exercise also involved the simulated cross-border deployment of a neighboring response team on Philippine soil, providing a test of regional coordination during a potential emergency.

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said cooperation remains essential despite differences in the nuclear capabilities and priorities of individual ASEAN countries.

“Guided by shared values, collective expertise, and over thirteen years of institutional trust, we are far stronger together. I urge every Member State to fully invest in this network, actively implement the ASEANTOM Work Plan 2024–2028, and ensure no nation is left behind as our regional nuclear landscape evolves,” Solidum said.

The Philippines also presented its accomplishments under ASEANTOM projects and shared lessons from activities conducted during its chairship.

Meanwhile, House Special Committee on Nuclear Energy chair Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco proposed developing a regional framework that would allow countries to assess their readiness as they pursue nuclear programs.

Cojuangco said such a framework could cover institutional readiness, including laws and regulatory independence; technical readiness involving personnel, infrastructure, safety and security; regional preparedness for safeguards and emergencies; and long-term issues involving financing, nuclear fuel, radioactive waste, spent fuel, liability and decommissioning.

The meeting also included representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and dialogue partners such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United States, South Korea and Japan.

Philippine agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Energy, Food and Drug Administration and other government bodies also participated.

ASEANTOM was established in 2013 as a platform for cooperation among nuclear regulatory authorities in Southeast Asia. It focuses on nuclear safety, security and safeguards through regulatory coordination, capacity building, sharing of technical expertise and support for international nuclear safety standards.

The Philippines hosted the meeting nearly a decade after hosting ASEANTOM’s fourth annual gathering in 2017.

The 2026 meeting concluded on Aug. 13 with the Philippines formally turning over the ASEANTOM chairship to Singapore, continuing the region’s efforts to ensure that nuclear science and technology are developed and used safely, securely and for peaceful purposes.