By Aerol B. Patena
MANILA, Nov 21 (PNA) — The ninth National Biotechnology Week which aims to highlight the benefits and contributions of biotechnology to agriculture and food security, delivery of equitable health care service, sustainable environment and the development of industries and the economy will open on November 25, Monday, at the Arroceros Forest Park in Manila and will run until November 29, Friday.
This year’s celebration which has a theme entitled “Bioteknolohiya para sa Kalikasan, Kalusugan, Kagandahan, Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran” will have the Department of Education (DepEd) as its lead agency.
The departments of Science and Technology (DOST), Agriculture (DA), Environment (DENR), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Trade and Industry (DTI), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines will also take part in the event.
Other partners include the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications; Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture-Biotechnology Information Center; Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center; UPLB- College of Agri Animal and Dairy Sciences Cluster; Philippine network of Microbial Culture Collections.
The opening ceremonies on November 25 will feature a forum on agricultural biotechnology and opening of the exhibits. It will be attended by Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada who will be delivering the welcoming remarks and Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro who will be giving the keynote address.
Seminars on Philippine biotechnology initiatives in agriculture and introduction to biotechnology for science teachers in elementary and secondary levels will be conducted at the Justice Palma Hall in Universidad de Manila, its main venue, on November 26.
Activities on November 27 will include forums on biotechnology for health applications at the main venue, and career talk for high school students and exhibit on investigatory projects to be held at the Philippine Science High School in Agham Road, Quezon City. Other line-up activities are the 5th National Biotechnology Education Conference for Teachers and the 3rd National Biotechnology Quiz for High School.
The fourth day, Nov. 28, will feature science and technology forums which include biosafety, nutri-genomics for adults, and human forensics, all sponsored by the DOST at the main venue. Other events include the Biotechnology Fun Fair, book launch, biotechnology film contest, and the Jose Burgos Jr Awards for Biotech Journalism. Venues of said events will also be announced later.
On Nov 29, the final activities include an investors forum, industry visit at Lian, Batangas; and closing ceremonies with awarding of contest winners at the main venue.
The National Biotechnology has been celebrated annually since 2005 every last week of November by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1414. (PNA)