Biotech Office holds first hybrid IRM Annual Review
By: Mary Michelle Lagare-Cruzat
Posted December 10, 2021
The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Biotechnology Office conducted the Insect Resistance Management (IRM) Annual Review on a hybrid set-up at The Manila Hotel last December 10, 2021, after two years of doing the event virtually.
This year’s IRM Review is the first hybrid event that the Biotech Office has conducted since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the stringent health protocols still in place and Metro Manila being under COVID-19 Alert Level 2, the participants were divided into virtual (Zoom) attendees composed of the technology developers and Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) representatives, and face-to-face attendees led by BPI Biotech Office Secretariat, members of the Insect Resistance Management Advisory Team (IRMAT), and members of the Post Approval Monitoring Group (PAMG).
During the morning session, BPI Assistant Director for Regulatory Services and Chair of Biotech Core Team (BCT) Mr. Ariel J. Bayot gave his welcoming remarks to formally start the event. This was followed by the updates on refuge testing requirements given by Mr. Darwin Landicho, Senior Agriculturist and PAMG member. Ms. Zyrine Lorizo, Agriculturist II and member of the Biotech Secretariat, also gave a brief update on GM Crop Adoption for the period of August 2020 to February 2021, dry season.
Dr. Edwin C. Alcantara, Scientist I at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, presented the Terminal Report of the on-going study entitled Post-commercialization of GM Corn Against ACB Phase III. He also laid his plans through his proposed changes for the Phase IV of the study. Moreover, CropLife Philippines' Executive Director, Mr. Edilberto de Luna, also gave his insights on the planning of IRM sentinel monitoring and National IRM Survey for 2022.
For the afternoon session, each of the three participating technology developers (Bayer CropScience, Corteva, and Syngenta) was given their own time to present their IRM monitoring results for 2021 and product-specific studies in relation to the Department of Agriculture Memorandum Circular No. 2 series of 2014. Dr. Joel Adorada, Chair of PAMG, gave the synthesis and formulation of recommendations from the IRMAT and PAMG members. He also took charge in facilitating the IRMAT-PAMG planning of activities for 2022. The program was wrapped up by parting words from Dr. Peter M. Magdaraog, OIC-Head of the BPI Biotech Office.
This event is being held annually and is aiming to provide an avenue for updating the status of activities and discussion of concerns relating to the IRM strategies in the Philippines. It was organized by the BPI Biotechnology Office, spearheaded by Dr. Joel Adorada and PAMG Co-chair Dr. Lilia Portales, and hosted by Ms. Alexis Marie Sagisi, Biotech Secretariat member.
