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MONDAY, 14 MARCH 2011 04:18
“THERE is no immediate threat to the Philippines.”
This was the statement by Science Secretary Mario Montejo on Sunday as he assured the public that the level of radiation in the environment in the country has “remained stable” since the Fukushima incident. The data was based on the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute’s (DOST-PNRI) routine daily radioactivity monitoring in the environment.
“DOST-PNRI is closely monitoring developments through its 24-hour link up with the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA],” Montejo said on Sunday.
He explained that “no increase in radiation level” means that as of the moment “there are no immediate effects of the March 11 Fukushima nuclear power plant explosion to the Philippines.”
At the same time, DOST-PNRI director Alumanda de la Rosa also explained that a plume-trajectory study provided by DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed that the plume from the site of the incident at Fukushima would not pass the Philippine territory as of March 14, 2011. The plume trajectory study was made by the World Meteorological Organization based in Melbourne, Australia,
“The direction of the smoke appears to go away from the direction of the country [Philippines],” de la Rosa explained. “The smoke is carried away by the northeast monsoon [amihan].”
Radiological emergency preparedness plan
Despite giving assurances that the country is safe should the much-feared nuclear meltdown happen in Japan, the government is not taking chances by activating the National Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (Radplan), Montejo told reporters on Sunday after meeting other officials on preparations for a possible nuclear fallout.
“Even if there would be a big leakage from their [Japan] reactors, there is still a containment structure and this makes it different from Chernobyl. So any problem… any radioactive leak will be contained within the facility, that is why we are saying that there is no immediate [threat],” he added.
Montejo said they are monitoring Japan’s efforts to normalize the reactors’ cooling system, which if they fail, will lead to a meltdown.
Scientists are also increasing their wind monitoring in order to trace any possible hint of radioactive materials. “Before, we were only doing it once a day. Now, we plan to do it four times a day.”
Benito Ramos, Office of Civil Defense Administrator and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive officer, said the Radplan should address any threat of radioactive fallout from Japan.
“If the Philippines is affected, the [council] will put into action the existing national radiological emergency preparedness and response plan or radplan for short that covers nuclear emergencies such as this,” he said.
Montejo said even the surrounding areas in Japan where the reactors are located are not facing radioactive exposure, and Japan’s decision to evacuate 300,000 residents is just a precaution.
“There is not even a radiation leak, and we don’t see any immediate possibility that it might have… substantially,” he said.
“For now, the risk is only in the [power] plant, there are no significant effects within Japan. So at this moment, there is no threat here,” she said. She said that even the waters in Metro Manila are safe.
Agnette Peralta of the Department of Health said that while there should be no cause for alarm, they are making preparations. “We are talking with the people who would be able to supply us with prophylactic potassium iodite just in case it [radioactive materials] will reach us here. The potassium iodite will protect the thyroid gland. Radioactive iodine is one of the things… one of the radioactive substances that may be included in plume should the plume reach us,” she said.
Montejo also pointed out in a press release that containment remains intact at Fukushima Daiichi Units 1, 2 and 3, quoting reports from the IAEA.
“The design of the Fukushima reactor is different from that of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant,” explained Montejo. “In the event of a meltdown at Fukushima, the melted fuel is expected to stay within the stainless steel containment, preventing its release to the environment.”
Experts describe the modern nuclear power plants as having multiple structural shields—similar to the Russian matrushka dolls—where, besides the stainless steel containment, the concrete outer structures are more than 1-meter thick
The Chernobyl power plant did not have a reactor building concrete shield and steel containment, he added.
The DOST-PNRI said in its Information Bulletin that its National Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan puts in place an organized emergency response facility for a timely, coordinated action of the Philippine authorities in the event of a radiological emergency. The agency is closely monitoring developments at Fukushima every six hours and maintains a 24-hour link-up with the IAEA.
Japan—which is often visited by earthquakes as faults crisscrossed the country sitting on the Pacific tectonic plate—has 54 nuclear power plants. The Fukushima crisis was the first major event that occurred among its nuclear power plants.
Enrile cautions vs hasty decision against BNPP
SENATE President Juan Ponce Enrile on Sunday cautioned the government against being stampeded into a hasty decision on the fate of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) amid the feared meltdown in two nuclear reactors in quake-and-tsunami ravaged Japan.
Enrile said Philippine authorities “need not decide now and should [just] await the Japanese study” on whether design issues played a key role in the nuclear debacle, amid ongoing desperate efforts to cool down the reactors.
Saying that he himself frowned upon proposals to finally harness the mothballed Bataan plant, shut down by the Cory Aquino administration in 1986 on safety and corruption issues, Enrile did not deem it wise to hastily close the door to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and urged the Executive to convene a meeting of experts to assess the situation.
Antinuke group: PHL not safe for nuke plants
“The devastating earthquake in Japan should open our eyes to the reality that the Philippines is not a safe place for nuclear plants,” Dante Ilaya, Nuclear Free Bataan Movement Network cochairperson, said in reaction to the nuclear plant concerns in Japan.
Ilaya quoted meteorologists who warned that countries within the Pacific Ring of Fire should expect a series of quakes in the coming weeks. The Philippines is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
“Our country is often visited by earthquakes and we do not have the technology to prevent a nuclear disaster in case of a strong earthquake. Japan, despite, being industrialized, turns out to be helpless against it,” pointed out Ilaya.
“Just imagine what would happen if the Philippines were to have a nuclear plant and be struck by the same disaster. It would be catastrophic,” added Monsignor Tony Dumaual, NFBM chairman.
“Better for us to go for clean energy like solar,” he added. --L. Resurreccion, R. Acosta, B. Fernandez and F. Marasigan
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