MANILA -- US-firm EōS Organization will help train Filipinos in civil nuclear energy technology to improve workforce development as the Philippines eyes mixing nuclear power in its energy mix.

At least two agreements were signed between EōS and Fulbright Philippines, Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology, Philippine-American Educational Foundation, and Valar Atomics Research Institute.

US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson witnessed the signing ceremony in Makati. She hailed the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to support civil nuclear workforce development in the Philippines, saying this marked the first U.S. private sector commitments in the Philippines’ nuclear sector.  

“Support exchanges, scholarships, and training programs.  These partnerships highlight the US private sector’s desire to work with the Philippines to build a local workforce that will drive the country’s clean and secure energy future,” she said.

Philippines, US sign '123' deal on nuclear energy cooperation

This new partnership is an outcome of the 123 Agreement signed by the US and the Philippines in 2024. The said agreement is for the transfer of US nuclear technology and expertise to the Philippines.

EōS and partner organizations will train Filipinos on the latest nuclear technology via scholarships, fellowships, training programs and educational initiatives. Filipinos will either go to the US to pursue nuclear studies via scholarship programs. And American experts will be the ones to go to the Philippines to train Filipino professionals.

“We’ll be bringing professors from the US to teach students. So instead of exporting students from the Philippines to the US on a limited basis, we’ll be able to bring those professors here to teach at universities,” EōS CEO Aaron Green said.

Pilipinas pasado sa unang phase para sa nuclear power plant

Part of the agreement is the allocation of $400,000 to accelerate the growth of the Philippines nuclear expertise.

A research reactor is also planned to be built to help students and trainees. If this pushes through, it will be the second operating research reactor in the Philippines. The first one is owned by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) and opened in 2023.

“Building a research reactor. Building a project that students and faculty can work with us on as we establish a workforce here in the Philippines,” said Kip Mock, President of the Valar Atomics Research Institute.

The PNRI has also welcomed the research collaboration to develop advanced nuclear energy reactor prototypes in the country.

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