BPI Biotechnology Office conducts Writeshop on the Manual of Procedure for Plant Breeding Innovation (PBI) and Policy Review

By: Alexis Marie Sagisi

Posted June 15-17, 2022

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Biotechnology Office together with the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO) conducted a writeshop to update and finalize forms, procedure manuals, and policies necessary in implementing the Department of Agriculture Memorandum Circular No. 8, Series of 2022, Joint Department Circular No. 01, Series of 2021, and Department of Agriculture Memorandum Circular No. 02, Series of 2014. The activity was held through a hybrid set up with online participants attending through zoom and face-to-face participants attending in Bayview Park Hotel Manila. With each day focusing on a specific Circular, each of the Biotechnology Core Teams (BCT) attended the writeshop on the day they were scheduled: June 15 – BCT-Plant Breeding Innovations (PBI); June 16 – BCT-Joint Department Circular (BCT-JDC); and June 17 – Post Approval Monitoring Group (PAMG).

To formally open the program, Assistant Director for Regulatory Services, Mr. Ariel J. Bayot, delivered his opening message mentioning that the activity aims to take a birds-eye view on the implementing procedures needed to undertake in fully operationalizing the above-mentioned circulars. Dr. Peter Magdaraog, OIC-Head of the Biotechnology office followed by laying down the program of the event. Dr. Maria Genaleen Diaz, Professor and Biotechnology office consultant, and Dr. Abraham Manalo, Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines Executive Secretary served as resource persons by presenting the Overview on Gene Editing and Plant Breeding Innovations, and the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) Resolution No. 1, series of 2020 along with the DA-Memorandum Circular No. 8, series of 2022 respectively. The Biotechnology secretariats were assigned to facilitate the discussion of each policies/document, with the hosts-Ms. Viola Katherine Gamboa and Ms. Tracey Mae Cea, Biotech Secretariats.

With the innovations in modern biotechnology as an application to agriculture, this activity was performed to endeavor the efficient implementation of biotechnology-related policies in the Philippines as a system accessible to its stakeholders, especially the farmers. Dr. Peter M. Magdaraog closed the event by thanking the participants and organizers, as well as reiterating the importance of the activity.