The Department of Science and Technology is committed to bringing accurate, reliable, and timely information regarding the Fukushima event and its possible effects to the Philippines. From all the official data and information received by the Department from authorized sources and examined by our experts, the DOST is confident to say that, while the situation in the Daiichi Power Plant is a serious local incident, it poses no risk to the Philippines.

There are confirmed activities still happening in the Fukushima plant that may affect people in the vicinity of the plant, but none of these can have direct effects to the Philippines. Any significant effect is contained only within the boundaries and vicinity set by the Japanese government.

DOST-PAGASA has continually assured that the wind direction coming from the Fukushima plant is going east, away from the Philippines. The current weather also shows no indications of disturbances that can change the wind pattern and direction. The distance of the place of incident from the country also lessens any possible threat as radiation dissipates over distance.

A recent DOST-PNRI’s modeling study also indicates that even on a worst-case scenario , the Philippines being 3,300 kms away from the site of incident, is safe and shall not be affected by any radioactive plume. The DOST-PNRI’s continuous daily monitoring of radiation level in the Philippine environment have shown no changes from its normal levels.

Moreover, the length of days that passed since the incident makes the effect less critical, as the first one and a half days are the most critical due to the possible meltdown. As the days pass by, however, the threat of total meltdown decreases as the reactors are cooled down.

Despite the normal situation apparent in the country, the DOST and its concerned agencies, namely PNRI, PAGASA and Phivolcs, are continuously monitoring all indicators in the country. With the NRRDMC, DOST-PNRI has also put in place the Philippine National Radiology Emergency Preparedness and Response (RadPlan) in cases of nuclear emergency.

We also continue to advise our people to access accurate information from the PNRI Emergency Response Center at 929-4719 or 920-8738 or log on to the following: http://www.pnri.dost.gov.ph, http://www.dost.gov.ph, http://www.science.ph, or http://www.stii.dost.gov.ph.

(Sgd) SEC. MARIO G. MONTEJO
March 17, 2011