Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) and NEPIO
Two inter-related bodies govern the Philippines’ Nuclear Energy Program (NEP) planning and coordination: NEPIO (the DOE’s internal implementing organization) and NEP-IAC (the whole-of-government inter-agency committee created under Executive Order 116). RA 12305 (September 2025) created PhilATOM as the independent regulatory authority for nuclear safety and security — separate from the NEP-IAC which remains the planning and coordination body. See Nuclear Energy Program (Philippines) for the full program detail, Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM) for PhilATOM, and Digest: RA 12305 — Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act for the statutory framework.
NEPIO — Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization
Established: 2016, by the Department of Energy
Mandate: Study the feasibility of including nuclear power in the Philippine generation mix and provide technical secretariat support for the government’s nuclear program [PEP 2023-2050 Vol. III, Section A, p.1, 2023].
NEPIO was the original DOE-internal body for nuclear feasibility work, predating the whole-of-government structure. Its functions are now largely subsumed within the NEP-IAC, which NEPIO supports as technical secretariat.
NEP-IAC — Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee
Legal basis: Executive Order 116 (July 2020)
Mandate: Provide a whole-of-government approach to the NEP, coordinating 24 member government agencies across all aspects of nuclear program development [PEP 2023-2050 Vol. III, Section A, p.1, 2023].
Governance:
- Chair: Department of Energy (DOE)
- Vice-Chair: Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
- Members: 24 government agencies
Six Sub-Committees
The NEP-IAC is organized into six sub-committees (SCs) which together address all 19 Infrastructure Issues of the IAEA Milestone Approach [PEP 2023-2050 Vol. III, Figure 1, p.1, 2023]:
| Sub-Committee | Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| SC 1 | National Position; Management; Funding and Financing; Electrical Grid; Procurement |
| SC 2 | Nuclear Safety; Radiation Protection |
| SC 3 | Legal Framework; Regulatory Framework; Nuclear Safeguards |
| SC 4 | Human Resource Development; Stakeholders’ Involvement |
| SC 5 | Site and Supporting Facilities; Environmental Protection; Emergency Planning |
| SC 6 | Nuclear Security; Nuclear Fuel Cycle; Radioactive Waste Management; Industrial Involvement |
Key Accomplishments (2022–2023)
- Drafted the National Position on Nuclear Energy, enacted as Executive Order 164 (February 2022) — the Philippines’ formal commitment to civilian nuclear power
- Coordinated the IAEA Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Mission under Milestone 1
- Supported negotiation and signing of the PH-US 123 Agreement (November 2023) — the fastest 123 Agreement ever completed (7 months)
- Drafted comprehensive nuclear legislation (under SC 3); designed independent nuclear regulatory body (target operationalization: Milestone 2, 2024–2028)
- Assessed 11 potential NPP sites; drafted RADPLAN (nuclear/radiological emergency preparedness plan)
[PEP 2023-2050 Vol. III, Tables 1–2, pp.3–6, 2023]
IAEA Milestone Timeline
| Milestone | Period | NEP-IAC Role |
|---|---|---|
| Milestone 1 — Foundational | 2023–2024 | National Position, INIR Mission, capacity building — completed |
| Milestone 2 — Project Development | 2024–2028 | Nuclear legislation, regulatory body, site characterization |
| Milestone 3 — Construction | 2028–2032 | Final investment decision, contracting |
[PEP 2023-2050 Vol. III, Figure 2/3, pp.3–6, 2023]