Pasay city: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has affirmed the Philippines' preparedness to collaborate with international partners in tackling plastic pollution, a pressing global issue. Marcos highlighted the widespread impact of plastic waste on biodiversity, public health, and the livelihoods of communities, both coastal and urban. He emphasized the need for technology that is credible, scalable, and grounded in rigorous science to effectively address the crisis.
According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos welcomed the NUclear TEChnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics) initiative by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as a crucial solution to the challenging problem of plastic pollution faced by both local and global communities. Speaking at the IAEA International High-Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics in Pasay City, Marcos described NUTEC Plastics as innovative, merging advanced nuclear applications with environmental protection to provide tangible benefits for industry and society.
The President mentioned the launch of the NUTEC Plastics Investment and Partnership Brochure, which outlines pathways for scaling up investment in nuclear science for environmental and industrial growth. He noted that the work under NUTEC Plastics complements the Philippines' broader cooperation with the IAEA in areas such as food and water security, health, agriculture, energy, and disaster resilience.
Marcos emphasized the importance of scientific progress through networks of regulators, scientists, investors, and community stakeholders, asserting the Philippines' commitment to building such networks locally and internationally. He highlighted the recent signing of Republic Act 12305, or the Philippine Nuclear Law, as a signal of the country's readiness for deeper, science-driven cooperation with international partners. This act is the country's first comprehensive regulatory framework for nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and peaceful applications of nuclear technology.
As the future chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, Marcos expressed that NUTEC Plastics could serve as a model for regional collaboration on science-based solutions to transboundary issues. He underscored the role of the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy (ASEANTOM) in enhancing nuclear science literacy and regulatory harmonization across the region.
The IAEA, established in 1957 and headquartered in Vienna, is the global body for nuclear cooperation, safety, and security. It launched the NUTEC Plastics initiative in 2021 to aid countries in monitoring and reducing plastic pollution through nuclear science. The program now supports over 100 member states, including the Philippines, in tracking microplastics, identifying plastic types, and implementing cost-effective laboratory methods.
The Philippines is a pilot country in the plastics upcycling component of NUTEC Plastics, with the flagship project being the Post-Radiation Reactive Extrusion (PREx) initiative by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI), which employs radiation to upcycle challenging plastics.
