Declaring Every Last Week of November of Every Year as National Biotechnology Week

November 9, 2007

PROCLAMATION NO. 1414

DECLARING EVERY LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR AS "NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY WEEK"

WHEREAS, it is the policy of Government to promote safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products as one of the several means to achieve and sustain food security, equitable access to health services, sustainable and safe environment, and industry development; HCEISc

WHEREAS, biotechnology sustains increased crop yields and farm productivity, and enhances the quality, value, and suitability of crops for food and other uses that are complementary to modern agriculture;

WHEREAS, biotechnology is behind many breakthroughs in human health care that have benefited millions of people through the development of vaccines, antibiotics, and other drugs that cannot be made in any other way;

WHEREAS, biotechnology has delivered benefits to our environment including protection of water quality, conservation of topsoil, improvement of waste management techniques, reduction of chemical pesticide usage, production of renewable energy and biotechnology-based products, and cleaner manufacturing processes;

WHEREAS, there are already biotechnology-based industries in the country that would benefit from the week-long advocacy campaign through recognition of their significant public contribution;

WHEREAS, biotechnology has been helping in the speedy and fair administration of justice through forensic DNA analysis and similar DNA technologies;

WHEREAS, biotechnology increases the pace of technology development for medical, agricultural, industrial, and environmental applications;

WHEREAS, public awareness, education, and understanding of biotechnology is essential for the responsible application and regulation of this new technology; and

WHEREAS, biotechnology, celebrates globally more than a decade of achievements in research and development and its commercial applications in agriculture towards a more healthy and safe use of the products of modern technology.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the last week of November of every year as "National Biotechnology Week".

The Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Education (DepEd) shall compose a National Biotechnology Week Committee to be co-chaired by the Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Science and Technology in year 2007. In succeeding years, the co-chairs may be rotated as decided upon by the Committee on a year-to-year basis.

The Committee shall formulate a program for the meaningful celebration of the National Biotechnology Week. They may call upon other government agencies and non-government organizations to assist in its implementation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 9th day of November, in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.