Aquino orders updates on Japan nuke meltdown threat

President Benigno Aquino III has ordered constant updates from national security and science agencies on the potential effects of a possible meltdown in an earthquake-crippled nuclear facility in Japan. Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte on Sunday said Aquino ordered the National Security Council to monitor and keep him informed on developments on the Japanese plant in Fukushima, some 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo. “As of the moment the President is in touch with the National Security Council, with Secretary Cesar Garcia, and has been initially briefed by the NSC, [Philippine Nuclear Research Institute] and [the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration] to monitor the possible effect if in case the meltdown does occur. We’ll get full updates from these agencies to see ano ang situation (to see what the situation is)," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. Valte said there are many factors to consider before assuming the Philippines will be affected by the nuclear meltdown in case the reactor in Fukushima fails. Japan is currently facing a fresh radiation threat after the cooling system at a second reactor of the nuclear plant failed in what could be the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 25 years. On Saturday, thousands were evacuated following an explosion and leak from the facility’s No. 1 reactor. Valte said that while the Philippines is relatively far from Japan, the direction of winds in the region will also determine if the radiation from the plant will affect the country. “Marami tayong factor na kailangan i-consider bago sabihing (There are so many factors to consider before we can say) we should be on alert for a direct hit coming from the fallout so to speak," she said. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) will hold a meeting Sunday to discuss the effects of a possible nuclear fallout in Japan, which was also ravaged by a tsunami following last Friday’s magnitude-8.9 earthquake. NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said the meeting will be attended by representatives from PAGASA, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology; and the PNRI. “Pag-uusapan ang contingency planning in the event ang radiation ay aabot sa atin (We will discuss contingency planning in the event the radiation from the nuclear plant reaches us)," Ramos said in an interview on dzBB radio. In the meantime, Valte echoed the call of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to Filipinos in Japan, especially those in the Fukushima area, to follow authorities’ instructions. “Ang pakiusap ng DFA sa Pilipino doon sumunod sa awtoridad (The DFA already advised Filipinos in the area to follow the instructions of authorities)," she said. Meeting of PHL scientists, economists sought As this developed, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile called on President Aquino to call for a meeting of Philippine scientists to discuss the potential threat from the nuclear plant’s radiation. He suggested that Aquino form a group of scientific and economic experts to discuss the possible effects of the radiation. “Ang lahat na bagay na nangyari sa Hapon… Gumawa ang Presidente ng Pilipinas ng isang grupo ng eksperto especially mga scientist natin para alamin ano ang epekto niyan sa atin. Ang ekonomista natin lahat na disiplina natin alamin ano ang epekto ng nangyari sa Hapon sa atin para makapaghanda tayo," Enrile said in a separate interview on dzBB. (The President should form a council of experts especially scientists to determine the possible effects of what happened in Japan. Our economists should also be made part of this, so we can prepare accordingly.) He said that for now, emphasis must be placed on science and nuclear physics. Enrile said the radiation from Japan may affect the waters around it and reach the Philippines. Last Friday, tsunami waves generated by the quake in Japan reached the Philippines, although they were already weakened. “Ang tubig siguradong maapektuhan ng effect ng radiation [dahil] malakas ang current (The water affected by the radiation may reach our waters because of the strong current)," Enrile said. Less ODA On the economic front, Enrile said the Philippines must brace for possible impacts on trade since Japan is likely to use its funds for reconstruction and rehabilitation. He said this may translate to less official development assistance (ODA), much of which go to supporting the peace process in Mindanao. “Siguradong hihina ang ekonomiya ng Hapon although not permanently. Kaya ang ating ODA galing Japan maaapektuhan sapagka’t gagamitin nila ang pera for reconstruction. Ang pangako nila ma-slow down yan kaya ma-slow down din ang development project," Enrile said. (Surely Japan’s economy will weaken temporarily and our ODA may be slowed down. This will in turn affect our development projects.) Enrile also hinted at a possible slowdown in the hiring of Filipino workers in Japan. - KBK, GMA News