Forwarded radiation text message is false

Department of Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona would like to inform the public that the Philippines is safe from radiation exposure resulting from the damage to Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.

Ona took part in a briefing presided by President Benigno S. Aquino III held this noon to evaluate the possible consequences arising from the Fukushima nuclear plant incident and to consider necessary precautionary measures. Present during the said briefing were Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Communications Development Office Secretary Ricky Carandang as well as officials of the Philippine Nuclear Research institute (PNRI), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) and the National Security Agency.

During the briefing, the PNRI gave assurance that, at present, the Philippines is not in the path of any plume that may have been released by the plant. There was no reported meltdown in the damaged nuclear power plant. As of 11am today the wind pattern in Japan indicates that the Philippines is unlikely to be hit by any radioactive fallout from Fukushima. The PNRI is in coordination with the International Atomic Energy Administration to be abreast of the aftermath of the Fukushima incident. The DOH and all government agencies are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis and have prepared contingency measures.

In this light, radiation text messages being forwarded around are false.

There is no truth to text rumors that radiation from a nuclear plant in Japan has reached the Philippines, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Monday.

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)’s routine daily radiation monitoring in the environment showed the level of radiation in the environment in the country has remained stable since the Fukushima incident in Japan.

“The advice that people should stay indoors and to wear raincoats if they go outdoors did not come from DOST or any agency member of the National Disaster Coordinating Council,” the DOST said in a statement.

The department also advised the public not to believe rumors currently spreading through text messages, emails, the Internet, and other means of communication.

There you have it. There is no radiation threat in Philippines from Japan power plant. Please stop the spread of wrong information. You are not helping the country that way. ‘Di nakakatulong sa bayan.’

See how the story unfolded in Twitter.