EEPSEA, IDRC Regional Office for Southeast and East Asia, Singapore, SG
Abstract
This study looks at the current biotechnology and biosafety situation in the Philippines. It assesses whether the country's biotechnology organizations are in a position to effectively perform biosafety regulation, protect intellectual property rights and respond to the accelerating pace of international biotechnology product development. Based on a mixture of primary and secondary information, the study finds that biotechnology development is constrained by funding and resources. It also finds that, while biosafety guidelines and practices are relatively strong, there are a number of institutional weaknesses. The study recommends measures to make biotechnology research and development more cost-effective and to improve biosafety in the country. Overall, the report calls for the Philippines to carefully balance the need for biotechnology regulation with the need for innovative biotechnology development
