BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
LAGUNA (December 23)—Eight Filipino experts were recognized earlier this month for advancing biotechnology in the Philippines.
For 2020, the awardees are Arthur Baria, Teresita Espino, Ma. Carmen Lagman and Mary Beth Maningas, while for 2021 they are Ramon Barba (posthumous), Glenn Gregorio, Juanito Rama (posthumous) and Alicia Ilaga, the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO) announced.
Baria’s strong leadership was said to have paved the way for the commercialization of biotech corn in the country and the Asia-Pacific. He was also cited for the development of the Robusta coffee upstream value chain.
Espino’s expertise in enzyme and monoclonal antibody technology, meanwhile, was said to have led to the development of technologies now used by several sectors.
Lagman, for his part, contributed to the establishment of the Practical Genomics Laboratory at De La Salle University to meet the need for RNA and DNA marker-based technologies for practical problems in aquaculture, fisheries and agriculture.
Maningas was cited for innovations that benefitted shrimp farmers, particularly that of a cost-effective, onsite and rapid diagnostics kit for white spot syndrome virus.
Barba, meanwhile, developed a process that enabled mango trees to flower and fruit three times a year. Banana micropropagation and tissue culture of sugarcane and calamansi are also among his research breakthroughs.
Gregorio, for his part, pioneered the use of participatory plant breeding methods to develop varieties for the coastal saline areas in Bangladesh. His studies on genetics and molecular mapping led to the production of salt-tolerant rice varieties in the Philippines, Bangladesh and India.
Rama was recognized for his advocacies as a distinguished biotech farmer-leader and as a champion of agricultural biotechnology.
Lastly, Ilaga was credited for pushing the frontiers of research, capacity enhancement and advocacy for agricultural biotechnology, from the development of laboratories to regulatory compliance of local genetically modified organisms.
Ilaga was also credited for the establishment of DA Agricultural Biotechnology centers, institutionalization of National Biotechnology Week, and the mobilization of DA institutions to develop a unified campaign to promote biotechnology application, policies and investments.