'National radiological preparedness plan for Phl ready'

MANILA, Philippines -  Government officials assured the public that the National Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, which has been in place since 2000, is ready for implementation in case the radiation leak from Japan reaches the Philippines.

In a worst-case scenario, the Department of Health would purchase iodine pills to prevent radiation poisoning.

Authorities said the radiation alert in the Philippines remains at zero because the explosion of the Fukushima nuclear plant still has no impact outside of Japan.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said the radiation alert in Japan is at level four but so far, the effect is local.

“Any radiation (leaks will affect only the area) near the plant. Even the Japanese, they are up to 20 kilometers. So the chance of it increasing, of course it will change everyday but as of now, there is no worst-case scenario for us,” Ona said.

Science Secretary Mario Montejo said the effect of radiation in the Philippines will not cause physical harm to people but may affect local produce and, of course, those imported from Japan.

“Most probably, in a worst-case scenario, only Japan will be hit. On our part, the worst, which is I mean very, very remote – not personal injury but maybe our agriculture (will be affected),” Montejo said.

Crop imports contaminated with unsafe radiation levels will be rejected. There is, however, no order to stop importing food from Japan.

Montejo noted that the Three Mile Island disaster in March 1979 resulted into an alert level five. No deaths resulted from the partial meltdown in the Pennsylvania nuclear power plant. The cleanup, however, took years.

The Chernobyl accident in April 1986, on the other hand, resulted into alert level seven. The explosion of the Ukranian nuclear power plant, which killed 30 people, is considered the worst disaster in the history of the nuclear power industry. – With Helen Flores, Rhodina Villanueva