Nuclear energy implementing rules out in early ’26
The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for PhilATOM, the country’s newly established atomic energy regulator, is expected to be released in the early months of 2026, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Director Carlo Arcilla said.
In an ambush interview, Arcilla said the IRR was expected to be released in three month and they were still working on it.
When pressed whether that meant early next year, he replied in the affirmative: “Yes, early next year, it’s out already. It’s February or March.”
Under the recently enacted Republic Act 12305, known as the PhilATOM Law, PhilATOM is designated as an independent and quasi-judicial body that will wield sole and exclusive jurisdiction over all nuclear and radiation regulation in the Philippines.
Once issued, PhilATOM will take over regulatory duties previously handled by PNRI and other agencies, such as the radiation-device regulation arm of the Food and Drug Administration.
Why the IRR matters
The IRR will lay out the regulatory framework under which PhilATOM can begin issuing licenses for the siting, construction and operation of nuclear energy facilities.
Arcilla said PhilATOM would grant two kinds of licenses—one to construct and one to operate. It will be the ultimate authority ensuring that nuclear power plants are built and run safely.
He also said PhilATOM would not concern itself with electricity pricing.
“The main purpose of PhilATOM is safety, security and safeguards,” he said.
Arcilla indicated plans to rehabilitate the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant as a fast-track option, especially if the country aims for nuclear power by 2032.
Arcilla likewise said the IRR would allow PhilATOM to establish a licensing-fee schedule and levy a universal charge potentially embedded in electricity bills. This is to ensure that the regulator’s funding remains independent of direct budget allocations, even as the government eyes an initial budget of around P400 million.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the PhilATOM Law was a landmark in the country’s bid for energy sufficiency.
The law, she said, “modernizes nuclear regulation consistent with the latest International Atomic Energy Agency standards and global best practices.”
