The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) joins the 13th National Biotechnology Week (NBW) celebration starting this Monday.
The NBW kicks off on November 20 at the Expo Hall 1, fourth floor, Fisher Mall, Quezon City. It has the theme, “Bioteknolohiya para sa Kalikasan, Kalusugan, Kagandahan, Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran: Lamang ang Masa at Magsasaka sa Limang ‘K’ ng Bioteknolohiya!”
As part of the celebration, the DOST showcases its breakthrough technologies and programs in biotechnology, such as the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s Biotek-M, a cheaper, yet accurate, confirmatory test for dengue diagnosis; Forest Products Research and Development Institute’s Bioactive Bamboo, a study to screen the phytochemical components of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of kauayan tinik, kauayan kiling and bolo; and Philippine Nuclear Research Institute’s Mutation Breeding and Tissue Culture for Mangosteen which aims to obtain varieties with increased yield and improved fruit quality.
The DOST will also feature the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development’s genomics R&D programs on rubber, cacao and coffee and food; and Nutrition Research Institute’s R&D program on Nutrigenomics, Industrial Technology Development Institute’s edible mushroom collection and National Research Council of the Philippines’s member-experts in biotechnology research.
Among the weeklong activities of the DOST are health forum, career talk, biotechnology forum, agriculture and aquatic forum, film-showing and science journalism workshop.
This year’s weeklong celebration also highlights the beneficial application of biotechnology in food and agriculture, health, environment and industry. It will showcase the applications of biotechnology in food production, health and wellness and environmental conservation through technology exhibits, trade fair, seminars and forums for teachers, students, farmers and consumers.
Also part of NBW activities is the Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotechnology Journalism. It will award individual journalists and media agencies for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of biotechnology.
Cash prizes, trophies and certificates of recognition will be given for Best News Story and Best Feature Story, with second and third prizes for each category. Three media outfits that published the most number of biotechnology stories will also be recognized.
This year’s awarding ceremonies will be held on November 22, at 5 p.m.
This year’s Filipino Faces of Biotechnology will be recognized on November 23 at 4 p.m. This will be the second year the recognition will be bestowed on Filipinos who promoted the advancement of biotechnology in the country.
The 12 acrylic paintings of Jose “Sonny” T. Burgos III, farmer-visual artist and eldest son of press-freedom icon Joe Burgos Jr., will also be showcased at NBW starting November 20.
Dubbed “Linang: Agriculture biotechnology and art”, Sonny Burgos painted his thoughts on agriculture biotechnology which he believes is the solution to the problem that farmers face nowadays. He has been painting for 38 years now.
The NBW—which is being led by the Department of Agriculture (DA) this year—is held annually based on the mandate from Presidential Proclamation 1414 issued in 2007 declaring every last week of November of every year as NBW.
An interagency committee composed of the departments of Agriculture, Education, Environment and Natural Resources, Health, the Interior and Local Government, Science and Technology and Trade and Industry was formed to integrate and harmonize respective activities of participating agencies and organizations for the celebration of the NBW.