The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) formally kicks off the National Biotechnology Week (NBW 2015) at the SM Dasmariñas Event Center, Cavite. DOST-PCAARRD is the lead agency of the event this year.
NBW 2015 has the theme, Kaagapay ng Mamamayan sa Pambansang Kaunlaran and the tagline, Angat Tayo sa Bioteknolohiya! The event is a joint undertaking of DOST, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
In her opening remarks, Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, Crops Research Division (CRD) Director of the DOST-PCAARRD reiterated what the objective of the event was. She also presented the activities lined up for the week.
Meanwhile, Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Acting Executive Director of DOST-PCAARRD, delivered the inspirational message of DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo.
“DOST is committed to come up with policies that promote biotechnological innovation and development while maintaining safeguards for public health and public privacy. We are seizing the opportunity for us to demonstrate how collaboration among universities, the private sector, other government agencies, and the public can create new products and services that benefit everyone,” said Secretary Montejo in his message.
Dr. William G. Padolina, President of the National Academy for Science and Technology (NAST) served as the guest speaker at the opening ceremony. He highlighted the continuing challenge of developing globally competitive agricultural products enhanced by biotechnology. Moreover, Dr. Padolina explored the possibility of achieving sustainable development through the generation of high quality information needed to monitor agricultural activities using new tools of gene technology. He capped his speech by saying that poverty alleviation can be achieved by creating partnerships among all sectors involved in research and development; unleashing the innovative capacity of poor people, and sharing more detailed knowledge on genome.
Dr. Mariechel J. Navarro, Director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications-Knowledge Center (ISAAA-KC), lead the launching of three publications: Biotech Bites; Voices & Views: Why Biotech; and Biotech Corn in the Philippines: A Country Profile.
Twelve scholars from the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) and the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) were given scholarships in the DA Biotech Scholarship Program which was also launched during the event.
The program was capped off by Dr. Rhodora R. Aldemita, ISAAA Senior Program Officer, who represented DA Undersecretary Segfredo R. Serrano.
“Let us continue our work and advocacy for better technologies for better agriculture. Let us continue to hone talents, skills, and creativity among the youth so we can sustain our gains in research and development on biotechnology,” said Serrano in his message.