Figure: Photo Source from DA Biotech Program 

(from left): DA BPO Dir. Claro Mingala, former DA BPO Dir. Annalyn Lopez, Dr. Mariechel J. Navarro, Dr. Violeta N. Villegas, Dr. Lourdes D. Taylo, DA Usec. Mercedita Sombilla, Dr. Leny C. Galvez, Dr. Camila Flor Y. Lobarbio, and Ms. Ma. Lorelie U. Agbagala (representing Dr. Fortunato dela Peña)

The Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Program (DA Biotech Program) awarded six individuals as the Filipino Faces of Biotechnology. The awarding was held in Quezon City on December 1, 2022.

One of this year's awardees is Dr. Mariechel J. Navarro, former Director of ISAAA Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology (KC). She was recognized for her outstanding advocacy for biotech and expertise in science communication. She has been with the KC since its inception in September 2000. Her internship at the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International in the UK on managing a biotechnology information system led to the development of the weekly e-newsletter Crop Biotech Update. Her most sought-after publications include the following: Communicating Challenges and Convergence in Crop Biotechnology, From Monologue to Stakeholder Engagement: The Evolution of Biotech Communication, Communicating Crop Biotechnology: Stories from Stakeholders, and Bridging the Knowledge Divide: Experiences in Communicating Crop Biotechnology. She has a Ph.D. in Development Communication from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, and received training in communication and biotech from the UK, USA, Austria, and Australia.

The other awardees include Dr. Violeta N. Villegas, Dr. Lourdes D. Taylo, Dr. Leny C. Galvez, Dr. Camila Flor Y. Lobarbio, and Dr. Fortunato de la Peña.

Read more from Business Mirror.