Status of Marine Biotechnology in the Philippines
Buenaflor D. Jimenez, Rica Cainglet and Jay Martizano
The Philippines is composed of more than 7,100 islands, covering a land area of 97,179km2 and populated by 273 people/sq km. It is one of the few nations that is, in its entirety, both a hotspot and a mega diversity country placing it among the top priority hotspots for global conservation. It is composed of 5,000 species of clams, snails and mollusks (Springsteen and Leobrera 1986); 488 species of corals (Nemenzo 1981); 981 species of bottom-living algae (Silva et al 1987), and thousands of other organisms.
The Philippine biotechnology is highlighted by the approval of a 5-year crop biotechnology program with a budget of P65M for the first year in 1997 by President FVRamos which is supported by Agriculture and Fishery Modernization Act that included an R&D provision for biotechnology. The effort were concentrated more on the field testing of Bt corn in South Cotabato by Monsanto Philippines. Biotechnology is institutionalized in government programs in 2000 by Pres. JE Estrada and in 2001 Pres. PGMArroyo made a Policy statement on Modern Biotechnology.
Marine Biotechnology Research and Development
Since the implementation of AFMA in 1997 research efforts were concentrated on agriculture and very minimal on marine biotechnology. The difficulty of marine biotechnology R &D in the Philippines is bringing laboratory results to pilot- or commercial-scale as this requires investors with a lot of money and foresight and the problem of marketing 'biotech' products especially with the strong lobby of those groups against genetic modification of any kind
Focus of Marine Biotechnology in the Philippines
Marine biotechnology in the Philippines id focused on the following areas: natural products, bioremediation, aquaculture, fish health management, algal biotechnology, genetic studies and fish feed technology.
1 ) Natural products
- Screening of bioactive compounds from microbes, algae, sponges, coelenterates & tunicates
- Issolation and characterization and elucidation of bioactive compounds from marine organisms (Production of bioactive materials that have potential use in aquaculture and industry (antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics)
2) Bioremediation
- Screening organisms (microbes,plants and animals) for treatment of aquaculture wastewater and pollution
- Uptake and biosorption studies
- Development of strategies to improve water quality in aquaculture systems
- Immunology based monoclonal antibody for detection of red tide toxins
3) Aquaculture
- Genetically enhanced Tilapia (GET excel)
- Improved seedstock dissemination catalyzed by sex reversal techniques
- SPF and SPR prawns
- Exogenous and endogenous digestive enzymes of grouper larvae (Isolation, cDNA cloning, and mRNA expressions of growth hormones (Siganus guttatus, Chanos chanos)
4) Fish Health Management
- Development of biotech tools for rapid disease diagnosis of fishes, crustaceans and mollusks
- Establish fish cell lines
- DNA and protein-based markers for disease diagnostics
- DNA-based procedures for pathogens and species identification
- Establish fish cell lines
- Explore the use of indigenous probiotics and immunostimulants, and develop vaccines against aquatic pathogens
5) Algal Biotechnology
- Develop improved seedstocks of seaweed for the industry
- Propagule production of Eucheuma denticulatum (Burman) and red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezi;
- Ice-ice free stocks
- Propagule production of Eucheuma denticulatum (Burman) and red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezi;
- Optimize use of algae for industrial and medical applications
6) Genetic Improvement
- The controversial genetic modification is still a long way for fisheries and aquatic biotechnology.
- The closest to most people's imagination of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) may be the R&D on controlled breeding
- Efforts in stock management and conservation, are currently focused on the development of breeding and culture techniques for target species for stock enhancement and enhanced growth rates and reproduction potential in important commercial species
- Genetic characterization and development of molecular markers, microsatellites and mitochondrial analysis for wild and domesticated stocks of animals and plants( in aquaculture for parental pedigree analysis to facilitate selective breeding and genetic improvement
- Efforts in stock management and conservation, are currently focused on the development of breeding and culture techniques for target species for stock enhancement and enhanced growth rates and reproduction potential in important commercial species
- Genetic characterization and development of molecular markers, microsatellites and mitochondrial analysis for wild and domesticated stocks of animals and plants( in aquaculture for parental pedigree analysis to facilitate selective breeding and genetic improvement
7) Fish feed technology
- Formulation of cost-effective environment-friendly feeds
- Nutrient enhancement and development of low-polluting diets (Use of plant sources and addition of enzymes & R&D Initiatives focus on microbial enzyme production
Government Biotechnology Facilities
- PhilRice Institute in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
- Philippine Carabao Center in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija for livestock
- Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
- 5 biotech laboratories to improve regulatory services with DA Biotech PIU managed funds
- BPI-PQS has established a biotech lab for screening GMOs quarantine concern
- National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (NFFTC) of the BFAR
- National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the UP Systems
The National Policy on Biotechnology
- The state shall promote the 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
Biotechnology Regulation
- AO No 8- Regulation in the commercialization of GM crops
- Requires risk assessment of GM crops prior to release in the environment and to importation for direct use
- Risk assessment harmonizes with internationally agreed upon principles and procedures embodied in Cartagena protocol and Code alimentaries
Philippine Laws on Biosafety
- Executive Order No 430 (1990) Constituting the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) and for other purposes
- Shall undertake study and evaluation of existing laws, policies and guidelines on biotechnology and its related matters
- Identify and evaluate potential hazards involved in:
- Genetic engineering experiments or the introduction new species and genetically engineered organisms
- Shall not engage in any activity related to chemical and biological warfare
Bioprospecting and Biopiracy
- Executive Order No 247 (1995) Prescribing Guidelines and Regulation for the Prospecting of Biological and Genetic Resources their byproducts and derivatives for scientific and Commercial Processes
- Provides for commercial research agreements
- Academic Research agreements
- Provides for commercial research agreements
Minimum terms (EO 247)
- Limit on samples that may be obtained and exported
- Complete set of all specimens collected shall be deposited with the National Museum of other government entity
- Access to collected specimen and relevant data deposited abroad shall be allowed to all Filipino citizens and Philippine government entities
- Collector shall be encouraged to avail of services of Philippine universities and academic institutions
- Where applicable and appropriate collector shall be required to transfer equipment to Philippine institution of entity
" But whatever future aquatic biotech will hold for the Philippines, MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGISTS all agree that it is much better to continue working to fulfill the biotech potential and be ready when the biotech industry would eventually start taking off in the country."
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