A change in perception on biotechnology among Region X’s provincial agriculture officers (PAO), city agricultural officers (CAO), and municipal agricultural officers (MAO) can now be observed. This is based on the findings of the project “IEC (information, education and communication) campaign and advocacy for modern biotechnology” of the Northern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (NOMCARRD).

The change was also observed among researchers of NOMCARRD member agencies.

The project, conducted from January 2005 to January 2006, utilized IEC campaigns such as conduct of symposia, use of broadcast media, and distribution of print materials, to promote biotechnology. As a result, knowledge on biotechnology among the PAOs, CAOs, MAOs, and researchers increased to 100%.

To develop effective and relevant IEC strategies, the project employed pre and post knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) surveys; knowledge and information management; and conducted a socioeconomic impact assessment on Bt corn commercialization.

The pre-KAP survey revealed that the top three print sources of information are newspapers, brochures, and leaflets. The preferred radio station is DXIC with news and commentaries as the top choices for programs followed by farming technologies and information. However, the respondents preferred training and seminars for interpersonal relations.

Identified sources of information were print materials, symposia, seminars and trainings. Print is the preferred channel of communication with an increased preference for the Internet. Researcher’s choice of newsletters, research journals, and scientific proceedings also increased after the campaign. The most significant biotech information read is about GMO or genetically modified organisms.

On radio programs, listenership on agricultural information and research results increased specifically on Bt corn. The station DXIM based in Cagayan de Oro City has the most number of listeners. For TV stations, ABS-CBN still dominates as the number one choice of the respondents.

Knowledge on agencies responsible for regulating biotechnology applications and safety of the technology to humans and the environment also significantly increased after the campaign.

The biggest impact of the campaign among the respondents is their perception that biotechnology is beneficial to agriculture. Needs on biotechnology still centered on the application of biotechnology for the improvement, production and protection of agricultural crops particularly on biofertilizers and biopesticides.

Biotechnology is a controversial issue, particularly in the province of Bukidnon where field-testing of Bt corn was done in recent years.

Nongovernment organizations actively protested against it and biotechnology became unpopular with the local people. This was aggravated by the low awareness and perception across sectors due to lack of strong information campaign on biotechnology. The IEC efforts of the consortium intended to counter this negative attitude towards biotechnology in the province despite the government’s Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 (AFMA or RA No. 8435), where biotechnology was identified as a catalyst for improving agricultural productivity and given fund priority allocation.

Spearheading the project were Central Mindanao University’s Dr. Rebecca B. Cagmat, Ms. Lucerne M. Razalo, Dr. Adel S. Laureto, and Prof. Raul C. Orongan.