Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 514)
The main purpose of Executive Order No. 514 is to establish the National Biosafety Framework (NBF) in the Philippines, prescribe guidelines for its implementation, strengthen the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP), and provide for related matters concerning the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology.
The State adopts a policy to promote the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products as means to achieve food security, equitable health access, sustainable environment, and industry development.
This Executive Order seeks to comply with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which the Philippines signed on May 24, 2000.
The NBF applies to the development, adoption, and implementation of biosafety policies, measures, and guidelines related to the research, development, handling, use, transboundary movement, release into the environment, and management of regulated articles concerning modern biotechnology.
The objectives are: 1) To strengthen science-based biosafety determination for safe use of modern biotechnology; 2) To enhance decision-making systems to be efficient, transparent, participatory, and culturally appropriate; 3) To serve as guidelines for implementing international obligations on biosafety.
The NCBP is strengthened, with mandates, functions, composition, and organization set forth in the NBF. It plays a central role in biosafety decisions and policy coordination regarding biotechnology.
The Departments of Science and Technology, Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Health shall allocate funds from their budgets to support the NBF and NCBP operations. Funding requirements are also to be included in the General Appropriations Bill submitted to Congress, with agreements among the departments on sharing financial and technical resources.
All orders, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Executive Order are repealed or amended accordingly. However, certain issuances like Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 008, s. 2002, and NCBP guidelines on contained use of genetically modified organisms remain in force unless amended.
This Executive Order took effect fifteen days after its publication in two newspapers of general circulation.
The current NCBP and its members shall continue their functions under Executive Order No. 430, s. 1990, until fully reorganized under the NBF. The reorganization starts after agreement on resource sharing and is to be completed within one year from that date, after which new members appointed by the President assume their positions.