2 BOC Execs attend an International Conference on Atomic Energy and Radioactive Sources at U.N.

            Two Customs officials led by X-ray Inspection Project head Atty. Ma. Lourdes V. Mangaoang and Port of Manila X-ray Field Officer and concurrent BOC Radiation Safety Officer Renato D. Palgan, attended the General Conference on Atomic Energy and Management of Radioactive Sources held last September 14-18, 2009 at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, together with five other members of the Philippine Delegation representing the National Power Corporation, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

            According to Atty. Lourdes Managoaong, the Customs participation in the international conference was to share its experience and, at the same time, to gain knowledge from other countries experiences on the management of radioactive materials and sources which were detected inside the container vans by the radioactive monitoring system of the x-ray scanners.

            “Considering the hazardous effects of these radioactive materials both to mankind and the environment, we have to make sure that these regulated cargoes are properly handled by our personnel according to the prescribed guidelines set by the International Atomic Energy Agency and other regulatory bodies, like the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and the Basic Standards for Protection Against Ionizing Radiation, once they are detected by our x-ray scanners”, Atty. Mangaoang said.

            Some apprehensions made by x-ray field offices in the past months were due to the radioactive monitoring system of their x-ray scanners. These included, among others, the seizure of sodium cyanide which is a known chemical for making explosive, and the seizure of undeclared fertilizers which has a known radioactive content.

BOC delegates, led by X-ray Inspection Project Head, Atty. Ma. Lourdes V. Mangaoang, and POM X-ray Field Officer and concurrent Radiation Safety Officer Renato D. Palgan, participated in the General Conference on Atomic Energy and Management of Radioactive Sources last September 17 at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, together with other members of the Philippine Delegation representing the National Power Corporation, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.