Biotech course to initiate LGU capability towards dev't innovations
A special course on biotechnology for local chief executives will be offered soon by the government.
As part of the capability building of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the local chief executives and concerned agricultural officers as partner of the national government towards development, need capability building to educate them of the vast potential and benefits of modern biotechnology to improve agricultural production and uplift the living condition of farmers and the rural poor, the DA press report disclosed.
A Memorandum of Agreement for the development of the training modules was signed recently between the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) and J. Burgos Media Services. ISAAA Director Randy Hautea and J. Burgos Media Services Executive Director Edith Burgos who was represented by J.Burgos Media Services and General Manager Joel Paredes signed the MOA during simple rites at the ISAAA office inside the University of the Philippines-Los Banos College, Laguna.
The MOA signing is an offshoot of the Memorandum of Understanding on Biotechnology Information Education and Technology Exchange Cooperation signed on July 1, 2005, a partnership committed to building the capabilities of LGUs in applying biotechnology for local development. Under the MOA, the DA through the capability building component on the Biotechnology Program will provide technical assistance and logistical support for training of the local government officials and agricultural and planning officers.
At the local level, RTD Larry Nacionales of DA VI when asked about the said special course on biotechnology, said that "we are already behind from other countries because they are already using such technology, amo ina ang trend subong, and the benefits will naturally be realized if our farmers are adopting the technology."
(T.Villavert/PIA)