The Philippines is steadily advancing toward its goal of nuclear power generation by 2032, as it successfully hosted the second Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum (PINSCF) 2025 at the Grand Hyatt Manila from October 2 to 3.

The high-level event convened global nuclear technology leaders, policymakers, regulators, industry partners, academics, and development agencies from the United States, South Korea, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, and the Philippines. The forum served as a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange aimed at building a resilient and future-ready nuclear ecosystem in the country.

Department of Energy (DOE) Director Patrick T. Aquino, who heads the Technical Secretariat of the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC), highlighted the Philippines’ progress in laying the groundwork for nuclear energy. “The NEP-IAC aims to transition from preparatory activities to implementation-ready frameworks, keeping the Philippines on track to deliver its first nuclear-generated kilowatt hour by 2032,” Aquino said.

He emphasized that 2026 will be a pivotal year for reinforcing institutional readiness, technical credibility, and public trust—key pillars for a safe and sustainable nuclear future.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continues to support the Philippines in addressing 19 critical infrastructure issues through six NEP-IAC subcommittees. These cover areas such as national policy, nuclear safety, legal frameworks, human resource development, environmental protection, and radioactive waste management.

Last December, the IAEA conducted a follow-up Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission to assess the country’s readiness for the next phase of nuclear development. Of the 14 recommendations issued in the 2018 INIR mission, nine have been fully addressed, with five currently in progress.

Aquino also cited major milestones achieved by NEP-IAC, including institutional coordination, nuclear safety workshops, legislative harmonization, site assessments, public education campaigns, and international cooperation.

A landmark development in the country’s nuclear journey is the enactment of Republic Act No. 12305, also known as the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM) Act, which establishes the legal framework for nuclear energy governance.

The forum’s theme, “Building a Strategic, Adaptive, Future-Ready and Empowered Philippine Nuclear Supply Chain for Sustainable Industrial Growth,” resonated with growing public support for nuclear energy. A recent Social Weather Stations survey revealed that over 70% of Filipinos believe nuclear power can provide reliable electricity, reduce dependence on imported fuels, create jobs, and help combat climate change.

“It was a privilege to learn from countries that have successfully operated resilient nuclear plants,” Aquino said. “We will continue to strengthen the ties we’ve forged as we work toward a clean, reliable, and secure energy future for the Philippines.”

With advancements in nuclear technology, the DOE believes nuclear power is now safer, more efficient, and economically viable—offering dependable baseload capacity while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.