By Frances Batara, StratCom Correspondent

The Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) chaired by the Department of Energy (DOE) conducted a symposium on nuclear energy today, September 27, at the Mariano Marcos State University - Teatro Ilocandia. 

Themed “Steering the Academe towards Careers in Nuclear Industry,” the symposium aims to stir interest among faculty and students on nuclear engineering, motivate them to pursue related studies, and provide an update regarding recent initiatives, developments, and benefits of nuclear energy. 

The event also aimed to craft a Human Resources Development plan to ensure the availability of highly-skilled and competent professionals for the safe, efficient, and reliable operations of a nuclear power plant in the country. 

DOE administrative services director Elisa Morales emphasized the need to correct misconceptions of nuclear energy and highlight its potentials for development. 

With this, DOE officials discussed the following topics in the symposium: Nuclear Energy (NE) and how it fairs in the whole energy mix; overview of the NE program and of the Human Resources Infrastructure; the role of Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) in upskilling/reskilling workers; the National Power Corporation and the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant experience; and, breaking the myths about nuclear science and technology.

These were delivered by Mr. Danilo Vivar, chief science research specialist under policy formulation and research division; Ms. Maria Cecilia Sofia Baldos, chief administrative officer under human resource management division; Engr. Michael Edione Gayona, senior TESD specialist and administrator of the Green Technology Center; Atty, Manuel Luis Plofino, senior department manager of the National Power Corporation - Resource Management Services; and Dr. Alvie Astronomo, associate specialist of the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis thanked the NEP-IAC for choosing the university as one of the venues of the nuclear energy symposium. She also looks forward to making MMSU as the first Philippine state university to attain net zero energy, in partnership with the NEP-IAC. 

The university president also challenged the 250 participants from the College of Engineering to strive for sustainable and transformative research on renewable energy. 

The NEP-IAC is composed of 17 agencies studying the potentials of nuclear power in the country. It was created in 2020 through Executive Order 116 signed by the then President Rodrigo Duterte. (JVBT/DPT, StratCom)