By Eunice Jean C. Patron
Chemistry plays a vital role in advancing agriculture, healthcare, energy, and infrastructure, but its potential for misuse has also prompted the creation of global safeguards, according to a University of the Philippines (UP) chemist who recently spoke on the subject.
During the fifth Innovation Impact Stories webinar of the UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) Innovation Program, Dr. Emily Castriciones of the UPD-CS Institute of Chemistry explained how chemistry underpins international treaties regulating chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) materials. Castriciones is also an Analytical Chemist Inspector for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
She traced the evolution of international controls on harmful substances, beginning with the 1925 Geneva Protocol and culminating in more comprehensive frameworks such as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). In the Philippines, enforcement of the CWC was strengthened in April 2025 with the signing of Republic Act 12174, or the Chemical Weapons Act of the Philippines, by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“As chemists, we are involved with chemicals from cradle to grave,” Castriciones said, noting that chemists oversee synthesis, testing, use, and even disposal, ensuring chemicals are monitored throughout their life cycle and do not pose risks to people or the environment.
She emphasized that chemists play key roles not only in industry but also in government regulation and law enforcement. Agencies such as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Fire Protection rely on forensic laboratories and technical expertise, often supported through collaborations with academic institutions and the Department of Science and Technology.
Castriciones was closely involved in the drafting of RA 12174, serving as a technical consultant and resource person during Senate and Anti-Terrorism Council consultations. She stressed that effective implementation of the law depends on broad stakeholder participation.
“For national laws to succeed, there must be all-of-society engagement—from government and industry to academe and research institutions,” she said.
The Innovation Impact Stories webinar series highlights how science and innovation translate into real-world impact, aiming to inspire collaboration and practical application of research for national and global benefit.|
