The latest biosafety regulatory guidelines in the Philippines, the Joint Department Circular (JDC), was presented to around 200 key stakeholders from Region III such as farmers, Department of Agriculture (DA) information officers, regulators, members of the academe (students and faculty from various universities), and constituents of local government units of selected municipalities in the region. The event, Biotechnology 101 & Joint Department Circular (JDC) Public Briefing, was held on October 27, 2017 at Hotel Stotsenberg, Clark, Pampanga.

Aside from the new regulations, the science, food and environmental safety, actual and potential socioeconomic benefits, and current and upcoming products of modern crop biotech in the Philippines, were also discussed by experts. These include biotech scientists and experts as well as representatives from the concerned government agencies of the JDC. The open forum clarified concerns on the safety of biotech crops, popularizing biotech, and research and production of local biotech crops. Participants from the academe expressed the need for conduct of more local research on biotech, while farmers recognized the potential benefits that crop biotech can deliver.

The activity was organized by ISAAA, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture-Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC), Department of Agriculture (DA)-Biotechnology Program Office, and DA-Regional Field Office III.

For more updates on biotech in the Philippines, visit the SEARCA BIC website.