Philippines Celebrates Annual National Biotech Week

The Philippines celebrated the 5^th Annual National Biotechnology Week last November 23-29, 2009 with the theme "Biotechnology for the country's environment, health, beauty, livelihood and development". The week-long activity included a press conference, business forum on bio-enterprise, book launching, biotech for kids activities, teacher's conference and scientific session on biotech for local development and environment, and a public forum on healthcare and biotechnology. The timeline of modern biotechnology development in the  Philippines, global biotech crops adoption and benefits, and biotechnology products commercially available and those in the pipeline, were showcased in the celebration's inter-active and techno-mart exhibits.

National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) President, Dr. Emil Q. Javier, emphasized during the opening ceremony that biotechnology is not just for scientists or policy makers but more so for all Filipinos. NAST, the country's premiere advisory body on science and technology,  has been an important advocate for biotech R&D and acceptance in the country. Moreover, Secretary of Agriculture Arthur Yap, in a speech read on his behalf, believes that "biotech is the way forward and the future for Philippine agricultural growth, sustainable development, and national progress and survival". The department will continue its investment and support to capacity building, public information campaign, and agricultural biotech research and innovation.

The event spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology and Department of Agriculture, and supported by several government and private sectors in the Philippines, was attended by thousands of scientists, environmentalists, health enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, decision makers, development advocates, farmers and students.

For more updates on biotech developments in the Philippines, email bic@agri.searca.org or visit http://www.bic.agri.searca.org .