Month: January 2011

The outputs of biotechnology and current researches that greatly influence people’s way of life at this modern age underscore the celebration of this year’s National Biotechnology Week (NBW) held at the SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City from November 22 to 28.

The event ensures continuing public awareness, education and understanding of biotechnology as an essential component of national development as stipulated in Presidential Proclamation No. 1414 declaring every last week of November of every year as “National Biotechnology Week”. This proclamation was signed by then President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo on November 9, 2010.

In the opening ceremonies held last November 22, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, who is also the 2010 NBW celebration chair, said that biotechnology is part of his advocacy in promoting modern yet eco-friendly technologies for the benefit of stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

“I will make sure that no agriculture products will reach the hands of our stakeholders unless they have passed biosafety standards. Biotechnology should provide opportunities to

stakeholders within the paramount objective of attaining safety and sustainable development,” Secretary Alcala said.
He also left a challenge to the Filipino biotech community: “Continue to spearhead the development and promotion of biotech products that are morally and socially acceptable—one that ensures the health and safety of humans, animals and the environment”.

Secretary Alcala’s co-chair is Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The weeklong celebration, which adopts last year’s theme “Bioteknolohiya para sa Kalikasan, Kalusugan, Kagandahan, Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran” with sub-theme “Ok ang 5K sa Biotech: Pagyamanin, Ito ay Atin!”, focused on the products of biotechnology that are showcased in the exhibits set up in the open areas of the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center and IMAX 2/F.

Participating in the exhibit were the different government agencies that are implementing and carrying a biotechnology program, pharmaceutical companies and other private companies promoting their biotech products.

Various fora on biotechnology topics were also conducted. Other activities in the NBW celebration included the Jose G. Burgos Awards for Biotech Journalism, which gives due recognition to members of the media whose work particularly focus on biotechnology or those who have been “pushing the frontiers of scientific inquiry”.

With the purpose of promoting researches on biotechnology, public research institutions were encouraged to submit their entry to the “Technology Presentation Contest” where promising agricultural biotechnologies were promoted. The presentations highlighted the beneficial impact of biotechnology in improving agricultural productivity and increasing farmers’ income.

Winners of the technology contest will win Php100,000 for the first prize in the category “Best Technology Kiosk”, Php60,000 for the second prize and Php30,000 for the third prize. Winners for the category “Best Technology Presenter”, on the other hand, will receive a cash prize of Php50,000 for the first prize, Php30,000 for the second prize and Php10,000 for the third placer.

Film showing on the importance of biotechnology in nation-building was held toward the end of the celebration. This was organized for the public to have a popular knowledge on the many benefits that man get from the application of this science.

Hosted this year by the DA, through its Biotechnology Program Office headed by Dr. Candida B. Adalla, co-organizers of the celebration included the Departments of Education (DepEd), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Health (DOH), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Science and Technology (DOST), Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The event was sponsored by CropLife Philippines, Department of Agriculture-High Value Commercial Crops Program (DA-HVCC), Monsanto, Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines and the SM Mall of Asia.

The records of discussions (ROD) regarding the formal initiation of a US million grant-in-aid project on “Enhancing Livestock Sector Performance in the Philippines” of the Korean government, were signed by representatives of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) last November 5.

KOICA resident representative and implementation survey team leader Jinoh Kim and Agriculture Undersecretary for Special Concerns Bernadette Romulo-Puyat signed the ROD documents. Senator Francis Pangilinan and Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) executive director Dr. Libertado Cruz witnessed the signing ceremony.

The project, when finalized, will be jointly implemented by KOICA and the PCC.
The Philippine government’s counterpart to the project is the mobilization of resources and personnel. It will allocate funds for the delegation of technical personnel, equipment and materials.

The project, which will be implemented in a period of three years, aims to establish an institutionalized electronic data capture system that will hasten genetic data evaluation and analysis and create a unified web-based genetic information system.

It shall also intensify artificial insemination (AI) service and the use of embryo technologies that will aggressively enhance propagation of superior animals. This will be actualized through the improvement of the PCC National Bull Farm and Semen Laboratory in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.

Cryobanking is another aspect that will be improved through the provision of equipment relevant to allow the conservation of selected livestock species that will sustain a long-term genetic improvement program.

Another component of the project is to enhance the competencies of PCC along the disciplines of breeding, genomics, bioinformatics, biotechnology and related fields by training scientists in advanced technologies in Korea.

Dr. Liza Battad, PCC chief for Planning and Special Projects, said that the signed ROD will be submitted to the KOICA headquarters in Seoul then returned to the Philippines for the final discussion on the details of the implementation plan with the KOICA technical team and the PCC.

Dr. Battad said that the project will be formally launched after the signing of the Note Verbales between the embassies of Korea and the Philippines, which is expected to be initiated before year-end.

She emphasized the complimentary effects of the project to the overall national genetic improvement program.

“By improving efficiencies and establishing a systematic performance evaluation, genetic gains will redound to the farmers’ level through increased milk production, animal holdings and, thus, family income,” she said.

“These effects may only be felt toward the end of the project but what remains important is the stream of outcomes supporting the local livestock industry development. These include, among others, generation of rural incomes, employment, and better rural family conditions,” she added.

KOICA is an agency of the government of Korea that extends assistance to developing countries through development cooperation efforts that carry the goals on achieving sustainable socio-economic development, poverty alleviation and promotion of humanitarian assistance and human security.

In a rare opportunity, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan graced a smallholder dairy carabao raisers’ forum in Nueva Ecija conducted at the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) National Headquarters and Gene Pool, in the Science City of Muñoz last November 5.

In his speech, Senator Pangilinan emphasized the importance of solving farmers’ issues relative to their actual progress and development.
“Hindi po natin kayang sugpuin ang kahirapan kung hindi natin haharapin ang mga problema sa sektor ng agrikultura. Pagsama-samahin po natin ang ating mga kakayahan upang sama-sama din po tayong umusad patungo sa tagumpay (We cannot alleviate poverty if we will not give our full attention in solving the problems in the agriculture sector. Let us altogether pool our efforts and capabilities so that we can achieve success as one),” Senator Pangilinan said.

He also said that ensuring the success of farmers is one key move for the development of agriculture in the country.
With the theme “Kalabaw ko, yaman ko…handog sa pamilya ko”, the forum was attended by about 200 carabao raisers.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Special Concerns Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) executive director Atty. Ronilo Beronio also graced the event with their active participation in the forum.
“The farmers’ forum was primarily conducted as a venue for smallholder dairy carabao raisers to freely discuss their issues and pressing concerns,” Wilma del Rosario, the PCC National Impact Zone program coordinator, said.

Also highlighted in the said forum were discussions on the questions raised by champion dairy carabao owners Engr. Jaime Ramos of Talavera, Marcelino Mislang of San Jose City and Belinda Parugrug of the Science City of Muñoz.

Ramos voiced out the concern of dairy farmers on putting the local dairy industry at risk of dissipation as the rates of duty on imported milk products will soon be eliminated as a result of schemes on ASEAN free trade.

He advocated for a stronger government support in protecting the stake of local dairy farmers in terms of extending the tariff that is currently imposed by the government at an equivalent of 1 to 3 percent of the value of imported dairy products.

“Sana ay ipagpatuloy ang tatlong porsiyentong buwis sa mga imported milk at milk products at sa halip na tanggalin ay gamitin na lamang ito para sa development ng local dairy industry lalo na sa infusion ng dairy animals (We are hoping that the current three percent tariff imposed on imported milk and milk products be continued and instead of eliminating, this tariff should be used for the development of the local dairy industry particularly in the infusion of dairy animals),” Ramos said.

“Hindi namin kayang lumaban sa mga malalaking kumpanya. Kailangan namin ng siguradong espasyo sa merkado para maipagpatuloy namin ang aming napiling hanap-buhay (We cannot compete with multi-million companies. We need an assured niche in the market for us to be able to survive with our chosen livelihood),” he added.

Senator Pangilinan responded positively to this concern. He pledged support to the appeal and promised to allocate funding for the dairy industry.

“Please submit a formal position paper on this and we will deal with it as soon as we can,” the Senator said.
Mislang, on the other hand, shared his experience during an educational tour in Thailand saying that its government was able to put in place a stable support system and marketing mechanism for its local dairy industry, thus ensuring profit for farmers in this sector. He said that farmers like him would be very grateful if the Philippine government can replicate such effort to support the Filipino dairy farmers.

He also shared the plan of his cooperative to implement a milk feeding program in Nueva Ecija that will ensure income for the dairy carabao farmers and good nutrition among school children.

USec Puyat said that DA Secretary Proceso Alcala will be informed of this move and that farmers can already count on the full support of the DA in this endeavor. She added that an inter-agency consultation will be scheduled among the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Trade and Industry to facilitate the implementation of the program.

Meanwhile, Parugrug, leader of a group of housewives who pinned new hope on the dairy buffalo, brought up the concern on how the government can help them have access to financing schemes. She said that access to soft loans would be a big help for the dairy farmers as funds are much needed to purchase facilities such as milking machine and to finance the marketing aspect of their production.
USec Puyat informed the farmers that there is Republic Act (RA) 10000 which provides for an agriculture and agrarian reform credit and financing system through banking institutions.

RA 10000, also known as “The Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009”, stipulates that all banking institutions should set aside at least 25 percent of their total loanable funds for agriculture and fisheries credit.
Through this scheme, USec Puyat added, farmers will have an equal access to opportunities that will maximize their productivity and thus sustain their economic growth.

Other questions raised during the farmers’ forum concerned rice seed subsidy, importation, regulating the price of palay and farmers’ access to postharvest facilities. They were aptly answered by Atty. Beronio and Deputy Director Arnel Apaga of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).