Philippines banks on biotechnology to address environmental challenges, food security concerns
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje says that given the challenges faced by countries such as the Philippines that are brought about by climate change and man-made maladies such as pollution, there is an immense potential of biotechnology in protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment
Manila: The Philippine government is counting on biotechnology-based solutions in addressing critical environmental and food security issues facing the country.
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, during a recent event in suburban Quezon City marking the 7th National Biotechnology Week, said biotechnology is key to addressing critical environmental issues confronting the Philippines, such as effects of global warming like droughts, food security and mitigation of impacts from natural disasters.
Biotechnology is loosely defined as the field of biology that utilizes living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, medicine and other applications.
Paje said that given the challenges faced by countries such as the Philippines that are brought about by climate change and man-made maladies such as pollution, there is an immense potential of biotechnology in protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment.
"The potential benefits of biotechnology in environmental management could not be overemphasized," Paje said. He stressed that biotechnology can greatly help improve the water quality of rivers and other waterways as well as enhance the reforestation of the country's denuded forestlands.
Speaking in the same forum with teachers and students, Senator Edgardo Angara, called on the government to maximise the use of biotechnology for the benefit of the country's food security.
"A large percentage of the food needs of our country comes from meat products. To address this need, we tried to upgrade the quality of livestock in the Philippines through genetics," said Angara.
"We have been left behind by Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia's rapid technological advances in this field. Bolstering our capability on biotechnology is the key to improving our nation's overall economic performance, putting us on a par with our neighbours in Southeast Asia," he said.
The use of biotechnology, particularly in food production and medicine, is controversial issue in the Philippines as well as in other developing and developed countries.
Paje noted that while the benefits of the safe use of biotechnology in other sectors, particularly in agriculture and medicine, have been increasingly recognized by the government, he also acknowledged the many issues confronting biotechnology, particularly the alleged impact of genetically-modified organisms or GMOs on the people's health, animals and the environment.
Paje stressed that based on Executive Order (EO) 514 which established the National Biosafety Framework and Strengthening the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is mandated to ensure that environmental assessments are carried out and impacts identified in the release of genetically-modified organisms or GMOs in the field.
"The DENR will continue to support the implementation of EO 514 as it is compliant to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety under the Convention on Biological Diversity that addresses safe transfer, handling and use of GMOs," Paje said.
