The Philippine’s Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo R. Serrano supports biotechnology as one of the interventions that can provide new set of tools in mitigating the challenges of water and energy crises in the country. “Biotechnology is one of the emerging technologies which the Philippine government supports to develop a new platform of technologies in meeting these challenges. The Philippines is the only country in the Southeast Asia with an established and functional biotechnology regulatory system, and this will pave the way for the commercialization of biotechnology products that can help in meeting these challenges” shares Usec. Serrano during the opening of the Annual Conference of the Federation of the Crop Science Society of the Philippines last May 19, 2009 held in Silliman University, Dumaguete City. Usec. Serrano added that the Department of Agriculture will continuously support biotechnology research, development and extension efforts to attain food sufficiency and improve health and well being of the Filipinos.

In addition, Dr. Antonio C. Laurena of University of the Philippines Los Baños Institute of Plant Breeding shared the current research and development initiatives in biotechnology which are aimed in meeting the water and energy crises. These include drought-tolerant crops such as rice, corn, wheat and sugarcane, as well as genetically engineered biofuel crops as one option in boosting biofuel production. In the near future, products of these initiatives will be available to the farmers and to the entire community.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Jenny A. Panopio
Special Project Coordinator & Network Administrator
Biotechnology Information Center
SEAMEO SEARCA
College, Laguna 4031
Email: jap at agri.searca.org
Tel: (63-49)536-2290 loc 169 or 406
Tele/Fax: (63-49)536-4105
URL: www.bic.searca.org