The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) spearheads the 11th National Biotechnology Week (NBW) as it opens on November 23, 2015 at the SM City, Dasmarinas, Cavite with the theme "Bioteknolohiya: Kaagapay ng Mamamayan sa Pambansang Kaunlaran" and the tagline "Angat Tayo sa Bioteknolohiya."
Created by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1414, NBW which will run until November 28, 2015 is co-organized by DOST along with the DOH, DA, DENR, DILG, DTI, DepEd, CHED, and the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines.
NBW serves as a venue to highlight the many contributions of biotechnology to agriculture and food security, equitable health care services, development of industries and business enterprises, sustainable environment and economic development, among others.
"Every year as we celebrate the National Biotechnology Week, I see new ideas and innovative products and processes from the PCHRD and FNRI that have great impact on improving the lives of Mang Juan and Aling Maria," stated DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo during one of his press briefings. "They are foremost in our minds whenever we do our researches because we want to utilize science and technology to improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos."
The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development or PCHRD and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute or FNRI, two leading research institutes of the DOST, are presenting a health forum on NBW's opening day, November 23 at 1 PM.
For the opening ceremony, Montejo will deliver the welcome message and formally open the week-long celebration showing the many benefits of biotechnology in everyday life.
The other activities lined up for NBW are science and technology forums on agriculture and aquaculture, a Biotech 101 forum for elementary and high school students, career talks on biotechnology, poster making contest, writeshop, and biotechnology exhibits. While many of these activities are by invitation only, the exhibit is open to the public.
Among the exhibitors are DOST, DA, DOH, DENR, International Rice Research Institute, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, and Cavite State University.
Everyone is invited to visit the 11th National Biotechnology Week in SM City, Dasmarinas from November 23-28, 2015. Admission is free.