DA to offer special course
on biotechnology for LGUs

THE government will soon offer a special course on biotechnology for local chief executives and concerned local government officials as part of its Capability Building of Local Government Units for Biotechnology program.

Agriculture undersecretary Segfredo R. Serrano announced that a training module for LGUs is now being developed to enhance capability building of local officials, led by the provincial and municipal officials and agricultural officers.

Serrano witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Saturday between the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech (ISAAA) Applications and J. Burgos Media Services for the development of the modules.

ISAAA executive director Randy Hautea and J. Burgos Media Services Executive Director Edith Burgos who was represented by former Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director General Joel Paredes signed the MOA during simple rites at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) building inside the University of the Philippines – Los Banos College, Laguna last Saturday.

The MOA signing is an offshoot of the Memorandum of Understanding on Biotechnology Information Education and Technology Exchange Cooperation signed on July 1, 2005 between the DA led by Secretary Domingo Panganiban and the LMP through its national president, Ramon Guico.  It was a partnership committed to building the capabilities of LGUs in applying biotechnology for local development.

Under the MOA, the DA through its Biotechnology Program will provide technical assistance and logistical support for training of the local government officials and agricultural and planning officers.

It will also develop a training module on Biotechnology for national and local development as a special course for local chief executives under the League of Municipality of the Philippines’ Mayor’s Development Center.

The modules will be custom-made for LGUs so that local chief executives and their officials can have the capability to initiate development innovations and stakeholders partnerships for development at the local level through biotechnology.

According to Serrano, the LGUs as partner of the national government towards development needs capacity building to educate them of the vast potential and benefits of modern biotechnology to improve agricultural production and help uplift the living condition of farmers and the rural poor.

ISAAA’s Hautea said the LGU’s should better be able to appreciate biotechnology and harness meaningful projects and programs for long term sustainability.

He said while the government is still under investing on biotechnology, the national policy which promotes its safe use towards sustained development gives the country a competitive edge as it allows technology developers to bring it into the country.

On the part of the stakeholders, particularly farmers, he said more and more are starting to realize the benefits of the application of modern biotechnology in agriculture.

“The over-all environment for biotechnology is very promising in the Philippines,” Hautea said.

Serrano said the prospect of biotechnology in the country is good, considering the fact that the country is leading its Southeast Asian neighbors.  The Philippines is the first to commercially release a transgenic crop – the Bt corn, notwithstanding that the Philippines is very strict when it comes to implementing biosafety.

Serrano said the LGUs which have the sufficient financial resources can help solve the problem of poverty in their respective areas through biotechnology, as it will allow farmers not only to increase production and reduce production cost, but will also allow them to venture into business and generate more revenues.

The DA is now promoting bio-commerce or biotechnology commerce, which aims to promote biotech products and empower the agriculture sector’s stakeholders, particularly farmers and small scale investors to do business, locally and abroad.

“There’s no way you can promote biotechnology without the LGUs because the extension service is devolved,” Serrano said.