A "Forum on GMOs for a Media Practitioners" in Region 9 (Western Mindanao) will be held in Zamboanga City on Feb. 22.  The forum is organized by the Department of Science and Technology Region 9, together with the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), DOST-National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), and Monsanto.  DOST-Region 9 Director Brenda Nazareth said the forum aims "to provide media practitioners with science-based information on the present status of genetically modified organisms (both locally and internationally,) the benefits derived from GMOs, their potential risks and present programs being undertaken to remove/reduce these risks and the policy issues related to GMOs."  Keynote speaker is DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabasto.  A synthesis of the forum will be made by Sonny Tababa, coordinator of the Los Baños based Biotechnology Information Center (BIC).