Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty  Organization (CTBTO) Executive Secretary (ES) Dr. Robert Floyd speaks to the attendees of the public lecture on “Detecting Nuclear Tests and Beyond: Harnessing the Full Benefit of CTBT Data” at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City (18 March 2025).

18 March 2025 - Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Executive Secretary (ES) Dr. Robert Floyd lauded the contribution of Filipinos to preventing nuclear war and maintaining world peace, with the country among the first to sign onto the CTBT. “From the security guard and groundskeeper to the station operators and managers, all personnel contribute in their own way to ensuring that the International Monitoring System (IMS) consistently and reliably supplies data on any nuclear weapons test,” stated Dr. Floyd during his public lecture on “Detecting Nuclear Tests and Beyond: Harnessing the Full Benefit of CTBT Data” at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.

The Philippines hosts three (3) of CTBTO’s 321 IMS Stations, a global network for detecting nuclear weapons tests. The three (3) IMS stations managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are located in Davao, Tanay, and Tagaytay. According to Dr. Floyd, the Philippine stations were part of the system that detected the 6 (six) nuclear weapons tests conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). 

Since the CTBT opened for signature in 1996, only 10 nuclear tests have been conducted compared to over 2,000 tests in 1945-1995. “The Philippines has been there since day 1 when the CTBT was opened for signature… and everyday thereafter,” said Dr. Floyd. The Philippines also chairs CTBTO’s Working Group A responsible for facilitating its budget and administrative work. 

ES Floyd also encouraged young Filipinos to join the CTBTO Youth Group, an organization of students and young professionals dedicated to promoting CTBT’s universalization and early entry into force and universalization, as well as its verification technologies for international peace and security.

The public lecture was organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs with attendees from various government agencies, students, and other stakeholders. This is Dr. Floyd’s first official visit to the Philippines as CTBTO Executive Secretary which included a courtesy call on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., visits to the IMS stations in Tanay and Tagaytay, and meetings with Secretary of Science and Technology Renato Solidum Jr. and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, and the Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Hellen De La Vega. END.