Department of Science and Technology (DOST)Department of Science and Technology (DOST)PHILIPPINE NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PNRI)PHILIPPINE NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PNRI)

Communicating with the Public during the Fukushima Emergency:Communicating with the Public during the Fukushima Emergency:

Presented at the IAEA International Experts’ Meeting Presented at the IAEA International Experts’ Meeting on Enhancing Transparency and Communication Effectiveness in the event of a Nuclear or Radiological Emergencyon Enhancing Transparency and Communication Effectiveness in the event of a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency

June 18-20, 2012 | Vienna, AustriaJune 18-20, 2012 | Vienna, Austria

Alumanda M. Dela RosaDirector, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute

Outline of Presentation National emergency response Communication strategies Communicating the accident to the public Outcome and conclusion

• 13 March 2011 - the PNRI Director convened the Executive Coordinating Council per PNRI RADPLAN , and activated the

• different response teams under the Radiological Emergency Manager: Technical support team (pool of experts) Radiation monitoring teams Media coordination team

Under the RADPLAN, the Media Under the RADPLAN, the Media Coordination Team was tasked toCoordination Team was tasked to organize press conferences and organize press conferences and

media briefings media briefings arrange interviews of PNRI officials, arrange interviews of PNRI officials,

spokespersons and scientistsspokespersons and scientistswith radio and television with radio and television

broadcasters and print journalistsbroadcasters and print journalists coordinate photo coverages of coordinate photo coverages of

PNRI technical support activities PNRI technical support activities by photojournalistsby photojournalists

• Involve the highest level of decision makers (Secretary of S & T and the President)

• Use information from verified sources only • Synchronize the release of information with events

unfolding in the reactors ; be factual and transparent

• Engage the print, radio, TV, and cyber media• Give media access to scientists and laboratories

used during the accident

on the incidenton the incidentbriefed thebriefed the

Press ConferencePress Conferenceat Malacañan Palaceat Malacañan Palacewithwith

channelled information through media briefings via a network of government agencies such as the Philippine Information Agency and the privately-owned media

• PNRI calibrated its release of information to the media depending on the events unfolding in Japan and the national response to these events: Progress of the nuclear emergency in Japan results of daily ambient radiation monitoring Environmental contamination in Japan incl. food products Results of radioactivity measurements of imported food Results of screening of returning nationals and media from

Japan

On a daily basis,officials and

technical support staff held daily meetings for the issuance of daily Information Bulletins

Prepared, posted and distributed Prepared, posted and distributed 31 Information 31 Information BulletinsBulletins

ProvidedProvided timelytimely factually correctfactually correct objective objective information to information to the public and the public and the mediathe media

Provided replies toProvided replies to over 2,000 inquiries over 2,000 inquiries

by telephone by telephone and emailand email

50,000 hits 50,000 hits registered on the PNRI website: registered on the PNRI website: www.pnri.dost.gov.ph

50,000 hits 50,000 hits registered on the PNRI website: registered on the PNRI website: www.pnri.dost.gov.ph

16 press conferences/media briefings, 48 TV coverages, and >50 radio 16 press conferences/media briefings, 48 TV coverages, and >50 radio interviews with officials and scientistsinterviews with officials and scientists

MonitoredMonitored over 500 news articlesover 500 news articles

online and in printonline and in print

BBC Flashnews: Japan gov't confirms radiation leak at Fukushima nuclear plants. Asian countries should take necessary precautions. Remain indoors first 24hours. Close doors and windows. Swab neck skin with betadine where thyroid area is, radiation hits thyroid first. Take extra precaution, radiation may hit Philippines

Responded to hoax Responded to hoax messages being messages being disseminated by unknown disseminated by unknown sources through short sources through short message service (SMS) or message service (SMS) or text messages, emails, the text messages, emails, the internet and other means internet and other means of communication of communication

PNRI scientists PNRI scientists were made were made accessible to the accessible to the media .media . Here, a Here, a PNRI nuclear PNRI nuclear engineer explained engineer explained the nuclear the nuclear accident to media accident to media

Dose equivalent of eating a banana is Dose equivalent of eating a banana is around 100 nSv (according to University around 100 nSv (according to University of Nevada, Reno Environmental Health of Nevada, Reno Environmental Health and Safety)and Safety)

• Radioactivity monitoring Radiation portal

monitors installed in Port of Manila scan container vans for radioactivity

Source: IAEA

Plant Status as of 11 May 2011:“Overall, the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

remains very serious.”

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• Based on IAEA data as of May 11, 2011: Gamma dose rates measured

in Fukushima prefecture = 1.7 microsieverts per hour (μSv/h)

Gamma dose rates measured in Ibaraki prefecture = 0.10 μSv/h

In all other prefectures, gamma dose rates =below 0.1 µSv/h with a general decreasing trend

FukushimaFukushima

IbarakiIbaraki

• Radioactivity monitoring PNRI conducted radiation dose monitoring

using a hand-held isotope identifier to monitor ambient air in various places in the Philippines

PNRI has been continuously monitoring the Philippines for radioactivity

• Analysis of food samples imported from Japan as of May 19, 2011: Total of 49 samples analyzed Found radioactivity levels

lower than 3 Bq/kg of Cesium-137 and Cesium-134 and were almost at the limit of detection, and lower than 1 Bq/kg of Iodine-131

“The radiological and safety impacton the Philippines

REMAINS INSIGNIFICANTas it had been

since the beginningof the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear

accident.”AS OF 19 MAY 2011

• The Philippine Government was able to give timely and factual information on the accident and its impact on public health and safety

• The PNRI , as the nuclear regulatory body, performed its task of leading the national emergency response effectively and with credibility

• The Philippine media have been a good partner in communicating the impact of the accident to the public, and gained a better understanding of radiation and nuclear energy

• All these collective actions allayed the fear and anxiety of the public towards the unfortunate nuclear event.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST)Department of Science and Technology (DOST)PHILIPPINE NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PNRI)PHILIPPINE NUCLEAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PNRI)

www.pnri.dost.gov.ph www.pnri.dost.gov.ph