february 2012
U.P. News 5
Experts see potentials of research on local mollusks By Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc
Experts foresee the drug and biofuel potentials of Philippine mollusks based on an ongoing scientific research being conducted by a multinational team of scientists. So far, 40 new compounds have been identified, two patents granted, and two articles recently published in an international chemistry and biology journal as a result of the study being done over the past five years. Dr. Margo Haygood of the Oregon Health and Science Discovery, principal investigator of the Philippine Mollusk Symbiont – International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (PMS-ICBG), gave a progress report on the research, which she has been doing in collaboration with UP scientists and students. Haygood’s report, titled “Mollusks, Microbes and Molecules: Biodiversity-
based Drug Discovery in the Philippines,” formed part of a lecture series by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs that was delivered last February 11 at the National Institute of Physics Auditorium, National Science Complex in UP Diliman. ICBG is a US-funded research project aimed at building scientific and economic capablities of developing countries, and enhancing skills and incentives needed to conserve biodiversity. During an open forum on the feasibility of the research, Haygood expressed enthusiasm over the result of their study. “Our group is highly regarded so we expect to be funded for the next five years,” Haygood added. Prof. Car mencita Padilla of the Philippine Genome Center, lauded the collaboration among the researchers
Dr. Margo Haywood reports about an international research project on Philippine mollusks and the microbes they interact with.
Solons cite potentials of biotech researches and products By Searca-BIC
for maintaining high standards in their endeavor, and for “doing a lot of good to local research.” Haygood underscored the central role of the Philippines in the study, citing the country’s estimated 10,000 species of marine mollusks and a large shell industry. Mollusk interaction with bacteria or symbionts has a rich potential for yielding processes, molecules, and enzymes useful for biomedical and energy production, she pointed out. Other scientists, among them Baldomero Olivera, a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with local scientists, have made breakthroughs in drug discovery using venoms from Philippine cone snails. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Marine Science Institute (MSI) professor Gisela Concepcion announced after the lecture that Haygood is set for appointment as a Visiting Professor at MSI next semester.
Photo by Jun Madrid
Lawmakers and technocrats have acknowledged the potentials of biotechnology in attaining national food security. This developed during the four-day biotech exhibit and seminars held in the House of Representatives last Jan. 21 to 24. The event sought to generate greater public awareness on the benefits and potentials of biotechnology for the country and the people. Journalists also attended the seminar, along with prominent members of the academe and the legislature. In his speech at the opening of the exhibit, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said despite environmental and agricultural threats, biotechnology continued to grow. “The good news is that alongside the emergence of these challenges, parallel advances in science are being made which carry the hope of possible solutions (to the problems),” he said. “The challenge remains, however, on how this potential is to be fully realized,” he added. Belmonte said conversion of prime agricultural lands into other uses, poor soil fertility and climatic factors such as typhoons, are among the challenges that need to be addressed in the agriculture sector. In biotech research and development, he said attracting more investments, accessing new technologies, dealing with anti-biotech groups, formulating bio-safety guidelines and managing commercial
In Photo: Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz (right, standing) stresses a point on biotech crops during the open forum of the seminar for policy-makers. Also in photo are UPLB-Biotech Director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora (seated at the presidential table, center), Searca Director Dr. Gil Saguiguit Jr. (seated, left), Pangasinan biotech corn farmer-leader Rosalie Ellasus, and National Scientist Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz (left, standing). (Sophia Mercado/Searca-BIC)
release of genetically improved products are constraints that needed high priorities. Belmonte cited a proposal to strengthen the intellectual-property rights law “that will protect and stimulate private investments in biotechnology in the region” to help in biotech research and development in the country. “Development of low-cost and appropriate technologies is particularly important for farmers,” he said. Belmonte also acknowledged the need for more education on the safety of biotech crops adoption, as well as the review of agricultural policies on land use. Apart from Belmonte, other prominent personalities who attended the seminars
included Dr. Evelyn Mae Mendoza of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Dr. Reynaldo Ebora of the University of the Philippines Los Baños-National Institute of Molecular Biolog y and Biotechnolog y (UPLBBiotech), and Dr. Nina Gloriani of the College of Public Health-UP Manila. Noted biotech corn farmer from Pangasinan Rosalie Ellasus acted as one of the resource speakers. The seminar served as an opportunity for policy-makers, media and other House constituents to clarify the issues and concerns on biotechnology, particularly genetically modified crops. The event was organized by the offices of
UP-PCA tie-up for coco industry dev’t By Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc
The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) have forged a partnership to further develop the domestic coconut industry and help improve the lot of coconut farmers and other downstream sectors. The two institutions signed last February 5 a memorandum of agreement (MOA) providing for collaborative efforts in the pursuit of research in line with the development component of the Coconut Industry Development Roadmap (CIDR). UP president Alfredo Pascual signed
the MOA, along with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, concurrent chair of the PCA governing board. PCA administrator Euclides G. Forbes and UP vice president for academic affairs also signed as witnesses during ceremonies held at the UP Board of Regents Room in UP Diliman, Quezon City. The MOA provided for collaboration in such undertakings as social action research with coconut producing communities, inventory of the state of science in coconut, inventory of Philippine scientists
and researchers doing work on coconut, development of a “clonal” propagation protocol to improve oil yield and prevent pest and disease, coconut improvement and multiple product development, and efficient coconut processing and production engineering systems. The accord also created opportunities for training young scientists and researchers, econometric studies, exploration of the coconut value chain, and institutional development and capacity building including the upgrade of experimental facilities.
Rep. Angelo B. Palmones and Rep. Agapito H. Guanlao of party-lists Agham and Butil, respectively; the House committees on science and technology, agriculture and food, and the special committee on food security; the UPLB-Biotech, UPLB-Crop Science Cluster-Institute of Plant Breeding, NAST, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca)-Biotechnology Information Center, Philippine Science Journalists Association Inc., Program for Biosafety Systems Philippines and the Department of Agriculture. The exhibits, according to Palmones, was “a must-see and a learning opportunity for legislators and their staff who have direct and indirect access to their respective constituents—the end beneficiaries of all these development activities.” Searca director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. said the exercise is the center’s effort in widening its reach to non-traditional sectors who should be equally concerned with the development of biotech. Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, chair of the House committee on science and technology, said he fully appreciates the potentials of biotech crops, adding that he was aware of it as early as the 1980s after seeing a biotech field trial in the United States. Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz and Rep. Sandra Sema of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said they were enlightened about benefits and potentials that biotechnology could bring to local agriculture. During the seminars, the scientists explained the importance of continuing biotech researches, such as the research and field trials on the insect-resistant Bt eggplant. They said since these were government-funded projects, the benefits should go back to the Filipino people. The upcoming biotech crops and technologies were expected to hold great potentials in bringing socioeconomic benefits to its adopters. On the debates about biotech, Dr. Saguiguit said; “Being rational individuals, we should go for evidence-based, rather than anecdotal basis in choosing between the pros and cons of biotech.” (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index. php/features/science/8968-phl-legislators-seepotentials-of-biotech-researches-and-products)