The FNCA 2025 Workshop on Radiation Safety and Radioactive Waste Management (RS&RWM) project was held in a hybrid format from July 8 to 10, 2025 in Manila, the Philippines. The workshop was jointly organized by Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), Nuclear Energy Program InterAgency Committee (NEP-IAC) led by Department of Energy of the Philippines, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan.

Representatives from twelve FNCA member countries (Australia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) participated in the workshop. For the first time, a representative from Singapore - which became an official member of the FNCA in 2024 - took part in the workshop.

[Workshop]

In the opening session, Mr. Patrick T. Aquino, CESO III, Director and Head of the NEP-IAC Technical Secretariat from the Department of Energy, delivered the welcome remarks through a video message. This was followed by welcome remarks from Dr. Vallerie Ann I. Samson, Deputy Director of the PNRI, and Mr. Neil Raymund D. Guillermo, FNCA Coordinator for the Philippines. Subsequently, Mr. WADA Tomoaki, FNCA Advisor from Japan, delivered the opening remarks.
Participants from each country reported on their national radiation protection policies and issues related to environmental radiation and radioactivity.

In the current phase from FY2024 to FY2026, activities of the project focus on environmental radiation and radioactivity around nuclear facilities. Participants will collect and review information on government policies and systems, current status and problems on environmental radiation and radioactivity in member countries, with the aim of compiling a consolidated report in FY2026, the third year of the phase.

In the group discussion session, participants were divided into two groups and exchanged views on the necessary table of contents for the consolidated report, radiation monitoring programs and methods, as well as regulations and requirements related to monitoring.

During the poster session, participants from China, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Thailand presented on current issues in their respective countries.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Ms. Kristine Marie Romallosa Dean, project leader from the Philippines, and Prof. KOSAKO Toshiso.

[FNCA Open Seminar]

The Open Seminar took place on the morning of the third day (July 10), with approximately 60 participants from PNRI, government agencies, and universities attending in a hybrid format. Participants from Japan and the Philippines gave presentations on management of environmental radiation and radioactivity, as well as the environmental implication of nuclear activities.

[Technical Visit]

In the afternoon of the third day (July 10), the workshop participants conducted a technical visit to the Nuclear Materials Research Section Laboratories, the Subcritical Assembly for Training, Education, and Research (SATER), the PNRI Radioactive Waste Management Facility and the Radiological Impact Assessment Section at the PNRI.

The FNCA 2025 workshop on Radiation Safety and Radioactive Waste Management was held from July 8 to 10, 2025, at Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) and Citadines Roces Quezon City Hotel. The workshop was jointly organized by the PNRI, Nuclear Energy Program InterAgency Committee (NEP-IAC) - Department of Energy, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan.

Representatives from twelve FNCA member countries - namely Australia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam - participated in the workshop. Including members of the secretariat, a total of 32 participants attended either in person or online. The event was also attended by government officials and local stakeholders as observers. The program of the workshop is attached as Annex 1. The list of participants is attached as Annex 2.

Session 1: Opening

In the opening session, Mr. Patrick T. Aquino, CESO III, Director and Head of the NEP-IAC Technical Secretariat from Department of Energy, delivered the welcome remarks through a video message. This was followed by welcome remarks from Dr. Vallerie Ann I. Samson, Deputy Director of the PNRI, and Mr. Neil Raymund D. Guillermo, FNCA Coordinator for the Philippines. Subsequently, Mr. WADA Tomoaki, FNCA Advisor from Japan, delivered the opening remarks.

Session 2: Introduction

Mr. WADA delivered a presentation on the recent progress of FNCA projects. In his presentation, he highlighted that the Philippine Mutation Breeding Project team was honored with the Best Research Team Award under the FNCA Award 2024 at the Ministerial Level Meeting held last year. Prof. KOSAKO Toshiso, Project Leader of Japan, gave a presentation on environmental radiation and radioactivity associated with nuclear facilities. Following three years of discussion, the outcomes of the project will be compiled into the consolidated report on environmental radiation and radioactivity from nuclear facilities in FY2026. The summary of each presentation is attached in Annex 3.

Session 3: Country Report

The member countries presented their national radiation protection policies as well as topics related to environmental radiation and radioactivity from nuclear facilities. The summary of each report is attached in Annex 3.

Session 4: Presentation on environmental radiation and radioactivity

The first presentation was delivered by Mr. Eng. Ronald Piquero from the PNRI, focusing on environmental radiation at the PNRI radioactive waste management facility. This was followed by a report from Dr. Khandoker Asaduzzaman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), who presented on environmental radiation and radiation protection at the Central Radioactive Waste Process and Storage Facility of the BAEC. Mr. OHKURA Takehisa of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) then gave a presentation on the Environmental Radiation Monitoring Program related to nuclear facilities in Japan. Lastly, Dr. Klitsadee Yubonmhat of Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) introduced the status of environmental radiation at radioactive waste facilities in Nakhon Nayok. Summaries of the presentations are attached in Annex 3.

Session 5&6: Group Discussion on Consolidated Report

The participants exchanged views on the contents for the consolidated report, radiation monitoring programs and methods, as well as the regulations and requirements for monitoring, in preparation for the development of the consolidated report.

Session7: Poster Session

Representatives from six countries presented current issues in their respective countries using posters. The titles of each poster are listed below:

• China : The Influence of Anions in the disposal environment on the Mineral Phase Composition of Cemented Waste Form
• Japan : Consolidated consulting for energy, safety, and the environment: JANUS`s contributions to nuclear disaster preparedness and waste management in Asia
• Japan : Marine monitoring in Japan - Focusing on monitoring by the MOE after ALPS-treated water discharge into the ocean -
• Malaysia : Managing Zinc Oxide Contaminated with Cs-137
• Mongolia : Environmental radiation and radioactivity in radiation related facilities in Mongolia
• Philippines : Baseline radon monitoring at the PNRI radioactive waste management facility and Philippine research reactor-1 SATER
• Philippines : Uranium geochemical maps of the Philippines (ver. 3)
• Thailand: Models for describing the leaching behavior of Cs-137 from Cemented Electric Arc Furnace Dust

The summary of each poster is attached in Annex 3.

Session 8: Summary

The participants reviewed the draft minutes. The draft will be circulated following the conclusion of the workshop and finalized thereafter.

Session 9: Closing

It was agreed that the workshop in 2026 will be hosted by Thailand.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks delivered by Ms. Kristine Marie Romallosa Dean and Prof. KOSAKO.

[FNCA Open Seminar]

The Open Seminar took place on the morning of the third day (July 10), with approximately 60 participants from the PNRI, government agencies and universities attending in a hybrid format. Presentations were delivered by three representatives from the Philippines and two from Japan.

[Technical Visit]

A technical visit to the PNRI was conducted in the afternoon of July 10.

Day 1 (July 8, 2025)

Day 2 (July 9, 2025)

Day 3 (July 10, 2025)

FNCA Open Seminar - Radiation Safety and Radioactive Waste Management -

Technical Visit

Australia

Mr. Duncan Kemp
Technical Director
Radioactive Waste
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)

Mr. Dan Nicholls
Senior Adviser
ANSTO

Ms. Vicky Sigalas
Manager
Nuclear Safety and Security
Australian Radioactive Waste Agency

Ms. Danielle Suckley
Assistant Manager of Environment Team
Australian Radioactive Waste Agency

Ms. Emma Watson
Australian Radioactive Waste Agency

Bangladesh

Dr. Khandoker Asaduzzaman
Chief Scientific Officer and unit Head
Health Physics and Radioactive Waste Management Unit
Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC)

China

Prof. GAO Chao
Head, Division of Waste Disposal
China Institute for Radiation Protection

Indonesia

Dr. Maman Kartaman Ajiriyanto
Head
Research Center for Nuclear Materials and Radioactive Waste Technology
National Research and Innovation Agency - BRIN

Japan

Mr. WADA Tomoaki
FNCA Advisor of Japan

Dr. IKEJIRI Satoshi
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Prof. KOSAKO Toshiso
Professor Emeritus
The University of Tokyo

Dr. HASHIMOTO Makoto
Senior Principal Engineer
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)

Mr. OHKURA Takehisa
Senior Principal Engineer
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)

Dr. SHIMADA Kazumasa
Researcher
JAPAN NUS CO., LTD.

Ms. CHE Jong - ah (Secretariat)
Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA)

Kazakhstan

Mr. Vyacheslav Gnyrya
Deputy Director for Tests
Institute of Atomic Energy
National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Malaysia

Dr. Mohd Zaidi bin Ibrahim
Manager
Waste Technology Development Centre
Waste Technology and Environment Division
Malaysian Nuclear Agency

Mongolia

Mr. Lkhagvabayar Batnasan
Officer in charge of safety of radioactive mineral extraction and processing
Nuclear Safety and Security Department
The Nuclear Energy Commission of Mongolia

Philippines

Dir. Patrick T. Aquino, CESO III
Head of the NEP - IAC Technical Secretariat,
Department of Energy

Dr. Vallerie Ann I. Samson
Deputy Director
DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Mr. Neil Raymund D. Guillermo
Chief of the Atomic Research Division
DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)
FNCA Coordinator of the Philippines

Ms. Kristine Marie Romallosa Dean
Science Research Specialist I
DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Dr. Angel Bautista VII
DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Dr. Americus Perez
DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Mr. Angelo Panlaqui
DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Mr. Rico Niel Quierrez
DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Mr. Ray Matthew Bunquin
DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Mr. Engr. Ronald Piquero
DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Ms. Jeana Lee P. Sablay
DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Singapore

Ms. Tang Hui Qi
Deputy Principal Scientific Officer
National Environment Agency

Thailand

Dr. Klitsadee Yubonmhat
Nuclear Scientist
Radioactive Waste Management Center
Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT)

Vietnam

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuc Phuong
Head of Division
Division of Planning and International Cooperation
Institute for Technology of Radioactive and Rare Elements
Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM)