This year’s National Biotechnology Week (NBW) celebration, which will run from November 22-26, highlights the crucial role of biotechnology innovations in healing the nation from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sa panahong ito, kailangan talaga natin ng kaagapay sa mga kababayan natin mula sa kagutuman, pagkakasakit, pagbagsak ng ekonomiya at pagkasira ng kalikasan at biotechnology ang nagging sandigan ng ating patuloy na pananaliksik at paglikha ng mga produkto, metodolohiya at iba pang proseso at pamamaraan upang makalikha ng produkto na pang-agrikultura at medisina,” Secretary Año said.
With the theme “Kapit-bisig na Pagtutulungan, Bioteknolohiya Ating Paghusayan!”, physical and virtual exhibits during the celebration aim to focus on the efforts of the government, non-government sectors and private institutions working together to bring forth milestones and technologies achieved through Philippine biotechnology.
In addition, DILG Undersecretary Marlo L. Iringan said the Department’s goal is to bring biotechnology to local levels in the context of battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
On efforts to up the public’s better understanding and appreciation of biotechnology, Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar expressed his stance in fighting misinformation by proper information dissemination about biotechnology. He zeroed in on how biotechnology could be an instrument to halt malnutrition in Filipino children.
In his inspirational message, Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña underscored the support and innovations made by the Department of Science and Technology during the time of the pandemic such as promising results of virgin coconut oil and lagundi as treatment for COVID-19 as well as passing of the House Bill 2155 establishing the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP).
One of the featured Pinoy Agricultural Biotechnologies is the QuickCArE Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus Test Kit developed by the DA-Philippine Carabao Center. This rapid, low-cost, pen-side DNA-based test with high detection rate can be performed in four easy steps without the use of specialized equipment.
By Marah A. Arquero