Regulators Improve Biotech Communication Skills

Members of the Philippine's Department of Agriculture (DA) Biotech Core Team, policy staff and biotech research management team recently undertook a communication workshop to enhance their skills in communicating science based information on agricultural biotechnology in a manner that will help stakeholders in their decision-making process.The capability enhancement activity entitled Communication Workshop: Enhancing Skills in Addressing Issues about Crop Biotechnology was specifically designed for the biotech regulators to equip them with communication skills to respond proactively to high concern and controversial situations related to their agri-biotechnology.

During the opening program of the workshop, Dr. Larry Lacson, Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry, stressed the need to convey effectively the issues and benefits of biotechnology to several stakeholders. He added that the government remains supportive of the safe and responsible use of biotechnology, being one of the technologies that can provide enough food for the future. Similarly, Dr. Clarito Barron, Chair of the DA Biotech Core Team, acknowledged the importance of biotech communication for regulators. He added that as regulators, they need to be in the forefront of educating the public on the science-based information on agri-biotechnology in order to remove confusions and fears on the technology.

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) , DA Biotech Program Office and the SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC) organized this 2-day workshop last April 27-28, 2010 at Sunrise Hotel, Alfonso, Cavite, Philippines.

For information on biotechnology updates in the Philippines, visit http://www.bic.searca.org or send an email to bic@agri.searca.org.