WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State to ensure a continuous, adequate and economic supply of energy;

WHEREAS, the need for a stable and reliable energy supply was clearly illustrated by the country ™s experience of the last five years during which time the bleak energy supply situation caused massive losses in productivity and of jobs;

WHEREAS, it is estimated that known world energy resources may not be sufficient to support the progress needed to give the growing population the quality of life it deserves;

WHEREAS, it is estimated that known world energy resources, especially oil and liquid natural gas, may last only up to the first half of the next century, and that other sources such as solar are not foreseen to be major energy contributors in the near future;

WHEREAS, there is a need to abate chemical and particulate emissions into the atmosphere in order to bring about a cleaner environment;

WHEREAS, nuclear power has been proved by world experience to be a reliable, competitive, and cost-effective source of energy supply;

WHEREAS, in the 1995 Philippine Power Development Program there is an undetermined base load capacity addition of 10,600 megawatts (MW) between years 2004-2010;

WHEREAS, the Inter-Agency Committee tasked to develop a Comprehensive Nuclear Power Program for the country has determined that nuclear power is a potentially viable energy source which may be considered to partially fill the required energy gap;

WHEREAS, the Government has decided to assess the viability of a nuclear power program, make the consequent decisions, and provide ongoing support in furtherance of œPhilippines 2000 ;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Nuclear Power Steering Committee. There is hereby created a Nuclear Power Steering Committee, which shall provide policies, direction, monitoring, evaluation, and other functions necessary and appropriate to attain the objectives of the overall Nuclear Power Program of the country. The Committee shall prepare the necessary action plans (including proposed time tables) and work programs. Subject to such guidelines as may be set by the Office of the President , the Committee shall determine the sources of funding to carry out its mandate.

This Committee is to be composed of the following:

The Committee may create such inter-agency subcommittees as may be necessary to fulfill its mandate, which subcommittees shall include those enumerated under this Executive Order.

The Committee may also call upon any department, agency, or instrumentality of the government for assistance. It shall also have the authority to hire the services of technical consultants of proven and internationally recognized expertise in nuclear technology as may be deemed necessary. In this relation, the Committee, through its appropriate member-agencies, may request the assistance of international bodies, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Development Program, to carry out its objectives.

The NPC shall provide the administrative and secretariat support to the committee.

SEC. 2. Siting Study Subcommittee. The NPC is hereby ordered to be the lead agency of the Siting Study Subcommittee which shall include, among its members, representatives from the DENR, the DOE, the DOST, the OP, and the PNRI. The Siting Study Subcommittee shall initiate and coordinate the efforts of the appropriate government agencies in conducting specific studies on potential nuclear power plan sites nationwide. In this regard, those sites that will be identified by future siting studies by said Subcommittee shall be proposed to the Office of the President for declaration as nuclear energy parks.

SEC. 3. Subcommittee on Radioactive Waste Management. The PNRI shall be the lead agency of the Subcommittee on Radioactive Waste Management in accordance with Republic Act No. 6969.  Said Subcommittee shall have, as its members representatives from the DOE, the DENR, the DOST, the NPC, and the OP. It shall study and identify sites for final radioactive waste disposal, conduct studies on the development of processes and methods to dispose radioactive waste, and take a key and active role in the eventual establishment of a National Radioactive Waste Management Center.

SEC. 4. Subcommittee on Nuclear Energy-Related Legislation. The DOJ shall be the lead agency of the Subcommittee on Nuclear Energy-Related Legislation that shall have, as its members, representatives from the DECS, the DENR, the DOE, the DOST, the NPC, the OP, the OPS, and the PNRI. Said Subcommittee shall draft and work for the passage of the necessary legislation in pursuit of the nuclear power program. Towards this end, all Subcommittees created under this Executive Order shall coordinate with and submit their final reports and recommendations to the Subcommittee on Nuclear Energy-Related Legislation.

SEC. 5. Subcommittee on Nuclear Manpower Development Program. The DOST is hereby ordered to be the lead agency in the development of a nuclear manpower development program in collaboration with the DECS, the DOE, the DENR, the NPC, the OP, and the PNRI.

SEC. 6. Subcommittee on Nuclear Power Public Education and Information. The DECS shall be the lead agency of the Subcommittee on Nuclear Power Public Education and Information that shall have, as its members, representatives from the DENR, the DOE, the DOJ, the DOST, the NPC, the OP, the OPS, and the PNRI. Said Subcommittee shall formulate an effective nuclear power public education and information program. Said program must include a training component for science teachers in the high school and college levels.

The Subcommittee shall also work for the inclusion of nuclear-related subjects in all engineering curriculum, and coordinate with the University of the Philippines for the revival of the M.S. in Nuclear Engineering program of the University.

SEC. 7. Research and Development Programs on Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Fuel Cycles. The PNRI shall conduct research and development programs in the field of nuclear safety, including the establishment of local baseline data on risks of power generating plants. It shall also conduct research and development programs on the various facets of the nuclear fuel cycle, including the resumption of activities on uranium exploration and nuclear fuel development and fabrication. The PNRI shall be assisted by representatives from the DOE and NPC.

SEC. 8. Feasibility Study on Nuclear Power Plant Operation. The NPC shall undertake a feasibility study for the construction and operation of the first nuclear power plant under the Nuclear Power Program and for subsequent nuclear power plants in consonance with the Power Development Program. It shall be assisted by representatives from the DENR, the DOST, the OP, and the PNRI.

SEC. 9. Feasibility Studies on Nuclear Reactor Design Alternatives. The NPC shall conduct feasibility studies to determine the appropriate choice of advanced reactor designs, giving due consideration to safety and economics, as well as to shorter construction and licensing time. It shall be assisted by representatives from the DENR, the DOST, the OP, and the PNRI.

SEC. 10. Funds. The sum of Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) is hereby set aside from the Contingency Fund of the Office of the President for the initial implementation of the Nuclear Power Program, including the activities of the Nuclear Power Steering Committee. In this connection, the Committee shall submit a work and financial plan and the fund shall be released upon the approval of said plan by the Office of the President. The Committee is also authorized to get supplemental funds from other agencies and instrumentalities of the government. Funds for succeeding years shall be determined and sourced out by the Committee.

SEC. 11. Deadline. The Steering Committee shall submit an initial report to the Office of the President within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Order. The report shall contain, among others, the action plans, work programs, budgetary requirements, source of funds, necessary legislation, and other matters necessary in pursuit of its mandate. Succeeding reports shall be submitted every six (6) months thereafter.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 12th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety five.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA, JR.
Executive Secretary