Emerging Innovations and Policies in Animal Biotech in the Philippines

The livestock and aquaculture industries in the Philippines face significant challenges, including rising production costs, disease outbreaks, and the increasing demand for safe and sustainable food sources. These issues threaten food security, economic stability, and the livelihoods of farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector. As the need for innovative solutions grows, advancements in animal biotechnology offer promising opportunities to enhance productivity, improve animal health, and ensure a more resilient agricultural system.

Animal biotechnology, including genetic modification and gene editing, has the potential to transform the industry by developing disease-resistant animals, improving feed efficiency, and increasing adaptability to climate change. However, for the country to fully harness these benefits, a clear and science-based regulatory framework is necessary to ensure the safe and responsible application of biotechnology in animals. Addressing regulatory gaps and aligning with international standards will be crucial in facilitating research, commercialization, and public acceptance of biotech innovations in the animal industry.

In the latest webinar of ISAAA Inc., experts from the government and academe tackled the current status of animal biotechnology in the Philippines in terms of research and development (R&D) and regulations. The webinar featured Dr. Marvin A. Villanueva, Center Chief of the DA - Livestock Biotechnology Center (DA-LBC); Dr. Claro N. Mingala, Director of the DA - National Livestock Program (DA-NLP); and Dr. Abraham J. Manalo, Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance. In this article, key points and concerns raised in the webinar are discussed.

What are the latest advancements in animal biotech in the Philippines?

The Philippines has made significant strides in animal biotechnology. According to Dr. Villanueva, gene-edited products are being pursued in the country for livestock improvement. Dr. Villanueva said that the DA-LBC has been working with several partners, such as State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), the government, the private sector, and international experts, to develop biotech products.

In the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), the Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) has been adopted to develop and optimize a cloning system in water buffalo. Through this technology, buffalo clone embryos were successfully developed in vitro. In addition to this, several molecular diagnostics have already been developed in the country, including the following:

• Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay Kits for Schistosoma japonicum, Leptospira spp., and Salmonella spp. developed by Manila Healthtek Inc.
• Low-cost Portable Molecular Diagnostic Platform for Rapid Detection of Poultry Infectious Diseases developed by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)
• African Swine Fever (ASF) Detection Kit using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) developed by Manila Healthtek Inc.

There are also locally developed biotech products from PCC and DA-LBC, including QuickCArETM and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay for the Detection or Screening of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). Aside from this, biotechnology has also been used for feed optimization. Some of the examples featured in the webinar were the Immuno Defense for Swine and Poultry and Protein Enriched Copra Meal (PECM), which are both developed by UPLB - National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH). Other biotech products from UPLB BIOTECH include the Detect Immediately by Probe System (DIPSTM), DNA Amplification System™ (DAS™) detection kits, and Quixens®, which were developed for food safety use.

Dr. Villanueva said that there are exciting opportunities for the use of modern biotechnology in addressing the pressing problems of the livestock industry in the country. He emphasized the need for education, public awareness, and adequate funding for biotech, research, and innovation to spur interest among young generations to join the workforce of promoting modern biotechnology.

How are the regulations adapting to emerging technologies in the Philippines?

In 2020, an Inter-Agency Technical Working Group (IA-TWG) was established to develop policies on genetically modified (GM) animals in the country. In 2023, the ARTA Memorandum Circular No. 2022-06 was implemented, requiring the conduct of a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for new policy proposals. A year later, the Preliminary Impact Assessment was completed in compliance with the Circular.

Currently, there is a proposed DOST-DA-DENR-DOH-DILG Joint Department Circular (JDC) on GM Animals and Animal Products that contains rules and regulations for research and development, handling and use, transboundary movement, release into the environment, and management of GM animals and animal products derived from the use of modern biotechnology. The Circular covers GM fisheries and other aquatic resources, GM domesticated animals, and biological agents for agriculture and fisheries used for biocontrol derived from the use of modern biotechnology. Dr. Mingala emphasized that the Circular does not include gene-edited products.

According to Dr. Mingala, there is ongoing conduct of a full Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on the proposed regulation, which will provide relevant quantitative and qualitative data on its impacts. The full RIA is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2025, and a public consultation will be conducted after the release of the RIA results. A benchmarking study about the adoption and use of New Breeding Techniques (NBTs) in livestock and fisheries will also be conducted in support of the policy development. The study is expected to be completed by the third quarter of this year.

Dr. Manalo clarified that the RIA essentially measures the expected effects, either negative or positive, of proposed and existing regulations. It will help base decisions on whether the regulation is needed, but it does not answer safety questions about biotech products. According to Dr. Manalo, any new regulation implemented in the Philippines must go through RIA. While socioeconomic considerations are vital in decisions regarding the release of biotech products, Dr. Manalo clarified that it is not part of the safety assessment process. Although it is an important consideration, socioeconomic impacts are considered differently in making decisions related to biosafety.

In the regulatory framework of the Philippines, secondary products will not be subjected to safety assessment if the developer used the same enzymes or bioreactors as the conventional products. If the ingredients were approved as safe and went through the biosafety process of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), then the product will be considered safe for human and animal health and the environment.

Allergenicity and toxicity tests are among the evaluations being conducted to ensure the safety of these products for human and animal health. Similar tests are also conducted to evaluate the invasiveness of these products. In terms of food safety, the regulators reassure consumers that these products are evaluated and continuously monitored throughout the whole regulatory process.

Dr. Mingala said that it is possible to release guidelines for gene-edited animals ahead of the guidelines for GM animals. In crops, plant breeding innovation (PBI)-derived products are being regulated under the DOST-DA-DENR-DOH-DILG Joint Department Circular (JDC) No. 1, s2021. Dr. Manalo urged the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) to also develop a similar resolution for gene-edited animals. In addition to this, Dr. Mingala encouraged scientists and researchers to continue advocating and promoting the safe use of these technologies. Proper information dissemination plays a crucial role in improving the level of acceptance among consumers in the Philippines.

A total of 103 participants attended the webinar titled Unlocking the Potential of Animal Biotech in the Philippines: Research Updates and Regulatory Prospects, representing regulators, regulatory system experts, policy experts, researchers, and the general public. The webinar was held on April 10, 2025, via Zoom.

For more information, watch the recorded webinar on the ISAAA website.

Archive

Older Post