Burying nuclear waste deep underground is the most effective way to protect the public and the environment from radiation, a geology expert told lawmakers on Tuesday.
During a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing, Dr. Carlo Arcilla of the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS) advocated for “deep geological burial“ as the gold standard for waste management.
The discussion arose after Senator Erwin Tulfo raised concerns regarding the Philippines’ geological stability. “We have earthquakes here,” Tulfo noted in Filipino. “If we put waste in cement and it cracks, it might leak into our groundwater and local ecosystems.”
Dr. Arcilla, who has studied nuclear waste for over two decades, explained that safety is achieved by isolating waste from human activity through mine repositories or deep boreholes, some reaching depths of up to three kilometers.
He highlighted the use of bentonite, a material commonly found in cat litter, as a critical “engineered barrier.”
“The clay structure of bentonite is layered and negatively charged,” Arcilla explained. “If positively charged radioactive ions attempt to escape, they are trapped within those layers. It is a proven global standard.”
Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, chairperson of the Special Committee on Nuclear Energy, went a step further, arguing that the earth itself is an incredible insulator. He cited the Oklo uranium mine in Gabon, West Africa, a site where natural nuclear reactions occurred two billion years ago.
“The waste from that natural reactor did not move more than one meter in two billion years,” Cojuangco said. “I think that provides all the proof of safety we need.”
The hearing also touched upon the country’s readiness for potential radiological incidents. Rafael Ricalde of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) informed the committee that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is currently finalizing a national radiological emergency response plan.
Key points of the preparedness update include Training Framework, in terms of developing specialized competencies in radiation emergency coordination. Then there is the Timeline, like when the program is expected to be finalized within the year, and the Target launch, where the full implementation of the training is slated for 2027.
The push for a clear nuclear waste and emergency roadmap comes as the Philippines explores nuclear energy to stabilize the country’s power supply and reduce electricity costs.