Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 514)
The State policy under EO No. 514 is to promote the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products to achieve food security, equitable health access, sustainable environment, and industry development while avoiding or minimizing risks.
The NBF is the adopted framework for biosafety policies, measures, and guidelines concerning research, development, handling, use, transboundary movement, release, and management of regulated biotech articles. It applies to all biosafety decisions related to modern biotechnology in the Philippines.
The objectives of the NBF are: 1) To strengthen science-based biosafety determinations for safe use of modern biotechnology; 2) To enhance efficient, predictable, and transparent decision-making on biotech applications; 3) To serve as guidelines for implementing international biosafety obligations.
The NCBP is strengthened to oversee biosafety matters. Its mandate, functions, composition, and organization are set forth in the NBF, requiring it to coordinate the implementation of biosafety policies and guidelines across relevant government agencies.
The Departments of Science and Technology (DOST), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Agriculture (DA), and Health (DOH) are the main agencies involved, mandated to allocate funds and coordinate to support the NCBP and its secretariat.
Funding for the NBF implementation is to come from the current budgets of the DOST, DENR, DA, and DOH. Starting 2006 and onward, the funding requirements must be included in the General Appropriations Bill submitted by these departments to Congress, with agreements on resource sharing.
The NCBP and its current members continue their functions under the previous executive order until reorganization under the NBF is complete. The reorganization begins once resource sharing agreements are finalized and must be completed within one year from the agreement's effective date.
The NBF serves as the guidelines for implementing the Philippines' international commitments on biosafety, particularly the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which the Philippines signed.
The Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 008, s. 2002, the NCBP Guidelines on the Contained Use of Genetically Modified Organisms (except provisions on potentially harmful exotic species), and all Bureau of Food and Drugs issuances on products of modern biotechnology continue unless amended by the issuing authorities.