No screening of returning Filipinos from Japan

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology said Friday that it does not advice screening of returning Filipinos from Japan, but would readily lend their equipment and services in the event the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) request them for precautionary measures.

PNRI Deputy Director Corazon Berdino said that as before, they do not advice the screening of people coming from Japan because although there is the possibility that they carry radioactive materials, the level would be very low and harmless humans.

Besides, she said, Japanese authorities have always been cautious in screening people coming from the 30 km radius which were directly affected by radioactive leaks of the earthquake damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant.

The PNRI official also advised Filipinos who would be repatriated from Japan to just leave their things, such as clothes, in Japan just to be sure that they do not bring with them radioactive elements when they arrive.

She noted that they will be ready to lend their services to the DFA if asked.

Berdino said they expect the DFA to communicate with them on this since they have announced that they will be doing the screening.

The PNRI earlier said they did not advise repatriation because the radioactivity levels in Fukushima power plant and its environs have consistently gone down.

In a press conference, Berdino refused to say that the DFA had lapses in ordering a compulsory repatriation of Filipinos, but said that the reported alert level No.7 from TEPCO could not be a basis for the repatriation of Filipinos.