Webinar on Basic Biotechnology and Biosafety Regulations in the Philippines

By: Alexis Marie Sagisi

Posted November 22, 2021

On November 16, 2021, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) - Biotechnology Office organized a webinar on basic biotechnology and biosafety regulations in the Philippines for the different BPI operating units, via Zoom platform.

BPI personnel representing each of the offices from the administrative sections to the technical divisions attended the event with a primary purpose of introducing the basics of biotechnology as well as the mandates of Biotechnology Office in upholding the regulations adapted in the Philippines.

The program commenced at 9:00 AM through a virtual photo op and the attendees were formally welcomed by BPI Director George Culaste. He welcomed the BPI employees as well as the invited speakers. In his message, he emphasized that the webinar would not only give an insight about the functions of the Biotechnology Office but also a move towards accepting agricultural modernization through biotechnology.

Dr. Genaleen Diaz, consultant of the Biotechnology Office and professor at the Institute of Biological Sciences in the University of the Philippines Los Baños, presented her topic entitled “Introduction to Basic Biotechnology Concepts”. In her talk, she introduced the basic concepts and recombinant DNA technology as a tool of modern biotechnology. After her presentation, Dr. Peter Magdaraog, OIC Head of the BPI Biotechnology Office presented his topic on Biotech Regulations in the Philippines, where he introduced the Joint Department Circular No. 1, Series of 2016 and its framework.

After the ice-breaker activity, Dr. Lilia Portales, Vice Chair of Post Approval Monitoring Group (PAMG), presented the Post-Approval Monitoring activities which are done by BPI after the issuance of a biosafety permit. A second round of the ice breaker was done and was spearheaded by Ms. Alexis Marie Sagisi, Project Assistant III. A total of ten individuals from both the 1st and 2nd ice breaker answered the questions correctly and were given prizes.

A question and answer portion was held after the presentations where the speakers answered the queries of the participants and further clarified misconceptions about biotechnology.

Finally, BPI Assistant Director and Chairman of Biotech Core Team (BCT) Ariel Bayot gave his closing remarks and commended the participants and the organizers for the success of the webinar on biotechnology . To conclude the event, a second virtual photo op was done, facilitated by the host of the event Ms. Darlene Siena, Project Assistant III of the Biotechnology Office.