THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) is updating its agricultural biotechnology training module to help local government officials make informed decisions and communicate science-based information to their constituents.
The revision was undertaken during a writing workshop on Sept. 24-25 at the Searca Residence Hall in Los Baños, Laguna. The workshop brought together subject specialists, the project management team and a technical reviewer to refine the existing material.
The activity is part of the Strengthening the Enabling Environment for the Development and Uptake of Modern Agricultural Biotechnology (SEED) Project, implemented by Searca and funded by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research through its Biotechnology Program Office.
The module was originally developed in 2024 under Searca’s Building Understanding and Mobilizing Public Support for Agricultural Biotechnology (BUMP UP Biotech) Project.
Searca said the revision aims to incorporate updated scientific and technical information while addressing the practical needs of public servants, particularly those in local government units (LGUs) covered by the SEED Project.
The project management team from Searca’s Research and Thought Leadership Department facilitated the writeshop. The team comprised Program Specialist Rochella Lapitan, Project Associate Krissane Cabral and Project Assistant Maricel Adique.
Ma. Stella Tirol, a retired faculty member and former dean of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) College of Development Communication, served as lead technical and editorial reviewer. The revised module covers five areas: biotechnology fundamentals, health and the environment, risk assessment and regulation, local governance, and media engagement.
Maribel Zaporteza, assistant professor at the Genetics and Molecular Biology Division of UPLB’s Institute of Biological Sciences, is developing the lesson on basic biotechnology concepts, including genes and heredity, biotechnology products, biofertilizers and Bt corn. The lesson aims to establish a common scientific vocabulary for public servants without specialized training in the field.
Dr. Nina Gloriani, former dean of the University of the Philippines Manila College of Public Health, is preparing material on biotechnology applications in human and animal health, genetically modified organisms, environmental benefits and safety considerations. She also previously directed the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network’s regional center for public health, hospital administration, environmental and occupational health.
Carlo Custodio Jr., Philippine country coordinator of the Program for Biosafety Systems, is handling biotechnology risks and safeguards. His lesson covers risk assessment, biosafety principles, regulatory approaches and emerging issues, emphasizing the role of scientific evidence in evaluating safety.
The local governance component is being developed by Jenny Panopio, president of the Pest Management Council of the Philippines Inc. and senior adviser for the Philippines at Narraharvest Advisors Pte. Ltd. It focuses on the Philippine regulatory framework, government programs and the role of LGUs in supporting agricultural biotechnology initiatives.
Ruby Cristobal, senior lecturer at UPLB’s College of Development Communication, is developing the media engagement lesson, titled “BioTekTok sa Media: Talking about Agri-Biotechnology in the Media.” It covers biotechnology reporting and communication, including writing press releases, handling press conferences and interviews, and managing crisis communication.
Tirol is reviewing the lessons for accuracy, consistency, clarity and overall quality.
Searca said the updated module is intended to serve as a practical reference for public servants responsible for communicating and implementing agricultural biotechnology initiatives in their communities. By combining scientific information with guidance on regulation, local governance and public communication, the training aims to help officials address biotechnology-related questions and engage constituents more effectively.
