Science and agriculture agencies are plunking more research and development funds in biopharming as the government rushes to propel the Philippines in four years' time as a regional leader in biotechnology or bioenterprise, that officials dub the "sunrise sector of the millennium."

Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro and Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano pledged to "institutionalize" budget allocation for R&D on biotech products, particularly in the field of biopharming, during the ongoing celebration of National Biotechnology Week at Bureau of Soils and Water Management.

Biopharming is the commercialization of plant-based pharmaceuticals.

"Biotechnology has been tagged as the sunrise industry of the millennium," Alabastro said. "In the knowledge-based global economy, cutting-edge biotechnology provides the innovations that add value, bringing forth new products and services, and creating new markets and businesses."

Serrano said, on the other hand, that the agriculture department is institutionalizing funding for the biotech R&D, particularly in biopharming.

"Substantial amount of funds will be poured into biopharming, particularly in developing a supply market for natural ingredients and biofortified crops or products that have medical benefits in the world market," he said on behalf of Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban, who is attending the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Geneva, Switzerland.

Earlier, President Arroyo declared the first week of July as National Biotechnology Week to promote the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology as part of government's effort to attain food security, equitable access to health services, and sustainable development.

This year's theme: "Securing the Philippines' niche in the global bioenterprise."

The weeklong celebration highlights the Biotechnology R&D Agenda for 2006-2010 that the Department of Science and Technology is pursuing in tandem with the Department of Agriculture on the development of biotech products in six major areas: food, industry, environment, medicine and health, agriculture and forest, marine and aquatic biotechnology.

Given the country's comparative advantage in terms of biodiversity and large pool of scientists and researchers in biotechnology, Alabastro said the government can "establish its niche in the global bioenterprise" by embarking on this private sector will have to play in the commercialization of biotechnology, and that of the media in raising public awareness of the potential benefits of biotechnology to the people along with its economic opportunities for small entrepreneurs.

Serrano said local governments and the private sector can help the government come up with biotech products like natural ingredients for health and wellness, and genetically improved crop varieties with medical benefits such as multivitamin rice.

The weeklong celebration was opened at the BSWM by the launching of books, including Understanding Biotechnology, written by Evelyn Mae Mendoza of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños and the launching of the Jose G. Burgos Awards for Biotech Journalism. It offers a crash course on biotech for young students and deals with such topics as genetic engineering, plant and animal biotechnology, cloning and biosafety.

Edicio de la Torre, executive director of Education for Life Foundation, also launched during the celebration a course that his organization has developed for city and town mayors as well as other local officials that promotes biotechnology as a means of "harnessing the power of life."

Earlier, Panganiban bared that the Philippines will come up in the next couple of years its first cloned carabao or "Super Buffalo", a pest-resistant variety of eggplant, better-tasting and faster-growing bangus (milkfish) and tilapia (St. Peter's fist), vitamin-enriched rice, papaya varieties that either have delayed-ripening qualities or are resistant to the ring spot virus, virus-resistant coconut and tomato, plus other genetically improved crops.

He said that more products of agricultural-biotechnology developed by Filipino scientists will soon be commercialized as the government steps us its program to increase food production and ensure the country's food security.