Marcos signs laws on nuclear energy safety, Shari’ah courts

President Marcos has signed into law measures creating a body that will craft policies on ensuring the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy as well as providing for equitable access to Shari’ah courts.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

The Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act and the amendment to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Act of 2009 were enacted on Sept. 18, documents posted on the Official Gazette showed.

The nuclear energy safety law, also known as Republic Act (RA) 12305, seeks to establish a legal framework to govern and facilitate the peaceful, safe uses of nuclear energy and to protect people and the environment against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

The law also forms the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority to enable the country to comply with its international obligations on the use of nuclear energy.

The PhilATOM will exercise regulatory control for the peaceful, safe and secure use of nuclear energy and radiation sources in the country.

PhilATOM will have a council that will be tasked to exercise regulatory functions and responsibilities such as enforcing the implementing rules and regulations of the law; assisting the national government in developing policies and strategies for safety and security and crafting measures for the control of regulated facilities and activities and exposures from naturally occurring radioactive materials.