Philippine House Meets IAEA Director General to Boost Nuclear Energy Cooperation

MANILA – The House of Representatives on Wednesday welcomed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in a courtesy meeting, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to better understand the role of nuclear energy in addressing persistent power challenges.

Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III said the meeting allowed lawmakers to engage directly with the IAEA’s top leadership at a time when the Philippines is pushing to strengthen its energy security and deepen scientific cooperation with global partners.

"We are grateful for this opportunity to learn from you and from the IAEA team," Dy told Grossi.

"For many of us in the House, nuclear energy is an area where we want to deepen our knowledge and understanding. And I want to say this honestly and humbly: we need to come up with solutions to address the energy problems of our country," he added.

The Speaker cited the everyday realities faced by communities throughout the Philippines, including in his own region.

"As someone who comes from the Northeastern part of Luzon, I see firsthand the same challenges faced across the Philippines. Power is insufficient. Power is expensive. And power is not always available when our people need it most. These realities limit growth, discourage investments, and burden ordinary families," Dy said.

He also highlighted the Philippines’ long-standing commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, noting that the Constitution expressly prohibits nuclear weapons – a principled stance that aligns squarely with the IAEA’s global mandate on safety and non-proliferation.

The courtesy call comes shortly after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening nuclear regulation and cooperation, following the signing of the Philippine Nuclear Law.

Marcos has also announced that under the Philippines’ 2026 Chairship of ASEAN, the country intends to expand the work of the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy to enhance regional literacy, laboratory capacity, and regulatory harmonization.

Dy said this made a clear statement to the world, that "the Philippines is ready to harness nuclear energy responsibly and transparently."

"It also signals that the Philippines is ready for deeper, science-driven cooperation with global partners," he said.

Dy said the House remains committed to supporting energy policies anchored on safety, transparency, and long-term national benefit.

"If developed responsibly – with the right safeguards, the right institutions, and the right public engagement – nuclear energy can be part of a more secure and competitive future for the Filipino people." 💙