Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178653768973220160916-bataan-nuclear-jc-21.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in Bagac is surrounded by wide roads and an elevated landscape to mitigate nuclear accidents. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The House of Representatives has passed a bill governing civil liability and compensation claims for nuclear damage.</p><p>The chamber approved House Bill 375, or the proposed “Philippine Nuclear Liability Act”, introduced by Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Mark Cojuangco, on third and final reading with 184 affirmative votes, 11 negative votes, and 2 abstentions.</p><p>Under the bill, the operator of a nuclear installation is held strictly and exclusively liable for nuclear damage, regardless of fault or negligence.</p><p>It establishes a limit on the liability of the operator for a single nuclear incident at an amount in Philippine pesos equivalent to 300 million Special Drawing Rights —a foreign exchange reserve asset. </p><p>That is equivalent to P25.9 billion as of Wednesday, August 12.</p><p>The measure also lets the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority set a lower liability amount proportionate to the risk and size of the nuclear installation. The minimum liability would be the Philippine peso equivalent of 5 million SDRs — around P432 million.</p><p>Under the bill, the government will step in if the operator’s financial security, whether through insurance or other guarantees, is insufficient to cover all claims.</p><p>ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio said the provision would potentially shift the burden of compensation to the public to protect the operator&#x27;s profits.</p><p>&quot;Nagsisilbi lamang ang batas na ito bilang garantiya para sa mga negosyanteng nagnanais pumasok sa mapanganib na industriya ng nuklear,&quot; he said.</p><p>(This bill would just serve as a guarantee for business who want to go into the risky industry of nuclear power) </p><p>Bataan 3rd District Rep. Maria Angela Garcia said the bill limits liability to 300 million SDR when a nuclear accident could cause widespread long-term damage that would be difficult to quantify.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/27/sona-2026-marcos-says-perhaps-time-to-revisit-nuclear-energy-1921">SONA 2026: Marcos says &#x27;perhaps time to revisit nuclear energy&#x27;</a></div><p>Before the bill was considered by the House plenary for third and final reading, Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia raised a point of order, saying the House Special Committee on Nuclear Energy had not consulted the judiciary, &quot;whose interest is affected by the bill&quot;.</p><p>He said that was an overreach that the House should &quot;immediately address.&quot;</p><p>House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo&#x27;s 1st District said the issue should have been raised at the committee level. She said she could not &quot;rule on a point of order that is not within the ambit of our jurisdiction.&quot;  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/7/30/france-seeks-to-boost-defense-possible-nuclear-cooperation-with-philippines-1615">France seeks to boost defense, possible nuclear cooperation with Philippines</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4tPXofRBiyA?si=Lqa_nYBzIB7MqcaC" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Under the bill, the operator of a nuclear installation shall be held strictly and exclusively liable for nuclear damage, regardless of fault or negligence.</p>

Under the bill, the operator of a nuclear installation shall be held strictly and exclusively liable for nuclear damage, regardless of fault or negligence.

House OKs bill on civil liability, compensation claims for nuclear damage

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House OKs bill on civil liability, compensation claims for nuclear damage

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 12, 2026 09:08 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

civil liabilityand compensation claims

nuclear energy compensation bill

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