QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY

MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Module on BIOS 103 - FINALS

LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY

I. Module Overview

Biotechnology, genetic engineering, and related techniques and technologies have

been subject to controversy and misinformation. And many people have quite a bit of
confusion about how GMO regulatory policies works, which is understandable since it’s
a complicated process. Despite that confusion, GMOs go through a rigorous regulatory
process to ensure they’re safe to go to market. In fact, the regulatory review process
alone can take more than three years to grant approval of a new GM crop product, and
overall, it typically takes over 13 years for a new trait to go from an idea to the field.

In this module, some of the main issues and controversies arising from the
production of transgenic organism will be tackled. In addition, an overview on the
regulatory processes and safety policies being employed with regards to transgenic
organisms and by-products and its commercialization will be discussed.

II. Intended Learning Outcomes

After the module, you should be able to:
1. impart knowledge and raise awareness on impacts of biotechnology products to
humans, society and environment enumerate various genetically modified organisms
(GMO’s);
2. discuss regulatory procedures on genetically modified organisms (GMO’s); and,
3. describe and explain roles of institution regarding laws and regulations in adapting
GMO products.

III. Take-Off

IV. Content Focus

1. ISSUES IN GENETICALLY ENGINEERED PRODUCTS

Some consumers and environmentalists feel that inadequate effort has been
made to understand the dangers in the use of transgenic crops, including their potential
long-term impacts. Some consumer-advocate and environmental groups have
demanded the abandonment of genetic engineering research and development. Many
individuals, when confronted with conflicting confusing statements about the effect of
genetic engineering on our environment and food supply, experience a "dread fear" that
1 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

inspires great anxiety. This fear can be aroused by only a minimal

amount of information or, in some cases, misinformation. With people thus concerned
for their health and the well-being of our planetary ecology, the issues related to their
concerns need to be addressed. These issues and fears can be divided into three groups:
health, environmental, and social.

A. Health-Related Issues

Allergens and Toxins

People with food allergies have an unusual immune reaction when they are
exposed to specific proteins, called allergens, in food. About 2 percent of people across
all age groups have a food allergy of some sort. The majority of foods do not cause any
allergy in the majority of people. Food-allergic people usually react only to one or a few
allergens in one or two specific foods. A major safety concern raised with regard to
genetic engineering technology is the risk of introducing allergens and toxins into
otherwise safe foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) checks to ensure that
the levels of naturally occurring allergens in foods made from transgenic organisms have
not significantly increased above the natural range found in conventional foods.
Transgenic technology is also being used to remove the allergens from peanuts, one of
most serious causes of food allergy.

Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance genes are used to identify and trace a trait of interest that
has been introduced into plant cells. This technique ensures that a gene transfer during
the course of genetic modification was successful. Use of these markers has raised
concerns that new antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria will emerge. The rise of diseases
that are resistant to treatment with common antibiotics is a serious medical concern of
some opponents of genetic engineering technology.

The potential risk of transfer from plants to bacteria is substantially less than the
risk of normal transfer between bacteria, or between us and the bacteria that naturally
occur within our alimentary tracts. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, FDA has advised
food developers to avoid using marker genes that encode resistance to clinically
important antibiotics.

B. Environmental and Ecological Issues

Potential Gene Escape and Superweeds

There is a belief among some opponents of genetic engineering technology that

transgenic crops might crosspollinate with related weeds, possibly resulting in
"superweeds" that become more difficult to control. One concern is that pollen transfer
from glyphosate-resistant crops to related weeds can confer resistance to glyphosate.
While the chance of this happening, although extremely small, is not inconceivable,
resistance to a specific herbicide does not mean that the plant is resistant to other
herbicides, so affected weeds could still be controlled with other products.

Some people are worried that genetic engineering could conceivably improve a
plant's ability to "escape" into the wild and produce ecological imbalances or disasters.
Most crop plants have significant limitations in their growth and seed dispersal habits
that prevent them from surviving long without constant nurture by humans, and they
are thus unlikely to thrive in the wild as weeds.

2 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Impacts on "Nontarget" Species

Some environmentalists claim that once transgenic crops have been released into
the environment, they could have unforeseen and undesirable effects. Although
transgenic crops are rigorously tested before being made commercially available, not
every potential impact can be foreseen. Bt corn, for instance, produces a very specific
pesticide intended to kill only pests that feed on the corn. In 1999, however, researchers
at Cornell University found that pollen from Bt corn could kill caterpillars of the
harmless Monarch butterfly. When they fed Monarch caterpillars milkweed dusted with
Bt corn pollen in the laboratory, half of the larvae died. But follow-up field studies
showed that under real-life conditions Monarch butterfly caterpillars are highly unlikely
to come into contact with pollen from Bt corn that has drifted onto milkweed leaves—or
to eat enough of it to harm them.

Insecticide Resistance

Another concern related to the potential impact of agricultural biotechnology on

the environment involves the question of whether insect pests could develop resistance
to crop-protection features of transgenic crops. There is fear that large-scale adoption of
Bt crops will result in rapid build-up of resistance in pest populations. Insects possess
a remarkable capacity to adapt to selective pressures, but to date, despite widespread
planting of Bt crops, no Bt tolerance in targeted insect pests has been detected.

Loss of Biodiversity

Many environmentalists, including farmers, are very concerned about the loss of
biodiversity in our natural environment. Increased adoption of conventionally bred crops
raised similar concerns in the past century, which led to extensive efforts to collect and
store seeds of as many varieties as possible of all major crops. These "heritage"
collections in the USA and elsewhere are maintained and used by plant breeders.
Modern biotechnology has dramatically increased our knowledge of how genes express
themselves and highlighted the importance of preserving genetic material, and
agricultural biotechnologists also want to make sure that we maintain the pool of genetic
diversity of crop plants needed for the future. While transgenic crops help ensure a
reliable supply of basic foodstuffs, U.S. markets for specialty crop varieties and Iocally
grown produce appear to be expanding rather than diminishing. Thus, the use of
genetically modified crops is unlikely to negatively impact biodiversity

C. Social Issues

Labelling

Some consumer groups argue that foods derived from genetically engineered
crops should carry a special label. In the USA, these foods currently must be labeled
only if they are nutritionally different from a conventional food.

3 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Figure 6.1 A product properly labelled indicating the use of GMO as an ingredient.

"Terminator" Technology

Most farmers in the USA and elsewhere buy fresh seeds each season, particularly
of such crops as corn, green peppers, and tomatoes. Anyone growing hybrid varieties
must buy new seeds annually, because seeds from last year's hybrids grown on the farm
will not produce plants identical to the parent. For this same reason—to avoid random
genetic diversity due to open pollination—farmers do not plant mango, avocado, or
macadamia from seed; instead, they clone individual plants of known quality through
techniques such as grafting.

In developing countries, many farmers who are not growing hybrids save
harvested seeds for replanting the next year's crop. A technology has been developed
that might be used to prevent purchasers of transgenic crop seeds from saving and
replanting them. Such ' 'terminator" seeds are genetically engineered, along with other
improvements more acceptable to farmers, to produce plants with seeds that have poor
germination. This forces farmers who otherwise save seed to purchase it if they wish to
use these improved commercial varieties. And, in the USA, the crops engineered with
various characters are sold alongside nontransgenic alternatives for which growers also
typically purchase seeds annually.

Despite these mitigating circumstances, this is serious issue among organic

growers and in developing countries, where the practice of saving seeds is the norm for
farmers who are not growing hybrid crops. Inclusion of "terminator" genes means that
these farmers cannot take advantage of improvements brought about by genetic
engineering without being brought into the economic cycle that profits the seed
companies. Without profit incentive, however, these companies are unlikely to invest in
improving crops. This issue is analogous to that faced by pharmaceutical companies
developing new medications against human diseases. Clearly, it is a difficult and divisive
social issue.

Ethical concerns

"Playing God" has become a strong argument against genetic engineering. “Playing
God”—this reproach has accompanied modern biotechnology from its very beginnings.
Almost every step forward in research has provoked vehement protest against the
disregarding of creation: gene editing, transplantation, transformation and stem cell
research and genetic engineering and many more innovations were faced with this
reproach.

Moreover, the use of genetic engineering in animals also post ethical issues, some
of which relate to animal welfare — defined by the World Organization for Animal Health
as “the state of the animal…how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it
lives” These issues need to be considered by all stakeholders, including veterinarians, to
ensure that all parties are aware of the ethical issues at stake and can make a valid
contribution to the current debate regarding the creation and use of genetically
engineered animals. Also, scientists are faced with ethical limits, questions on “what it
is acceptable to do”. Questions regarding whether it is acceptable to make new
transgenic animals go beyond consideration of the three Rs (Reduction of animal
numbers, Refinement of practices and husbandry to minimize pain and distress, and
Replacement of animals with non-animal alternatives wherever possible), animal health,
and animal welfare, and prompt the discussion of concepts such as intrinsic value,
integrity, and naturalness.

4 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

2. REGULATIONS AND SAFETY

How are genetically engineered products regulated?

Regulation varies around the world, given the social, legal, political, and cultural
differences among countries, and controversies surrounding the topics on biotechnology,
genetic engineering and transgenic products. But since the USA had been recorded as
the leading producer and user of GM crops worldwide, their framework for regulation of
biotechnology will be discussed in this section.

In the United States, a 2017 update of the U.S. Coordinated Framework for the
Regulation of Biotechnology, established in 1986, describes the federal oversight
ensuring safety of biotechnology products and protection of health and the environment.

Transgenic crops and their resulting foods in the United States are extensively
researched and reviewed by three federal government agencies: the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), the US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA). Each agency is responsible for a different part of the
review process.

USDA has primary responsibility for determining if a new product is safe to grow,
While EPA reviews the product for potential impact on the environment. FDA is
concerned with protecting the consumer and has final authority to declare if a product
is safe to eat.

Figure 6.2 The USA and UK regulatory process on GMOs.

5 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Considerations about food from genetically engineered crops have raised a host
of questions about effects on the environment, economic impacts, and ethics. However,
perhaps the most fundamental question about such food is whether it is safe and
wholesome to eat. Before field testing any new transgenic crop, companies and research
institutions must register with USDA for field testing permission. Researchers must
ensure that pollen and plant parts of the tested plants are not released into the
environment during this period. Transgenic crops must also pass scrutiny of the EPA,
which has the authority to regulate all new pesticides and genetically engineered crops.
EPA is concerned with potential impacts on nontarget species and endangered or
threatened species. Finally, any foods derived from transgenic crops must pass FDA
inspection. Current law requires that foods from transgenic organisms must be labeled
as such if their nutritional content or composition differs significantly from their
conventional counterparts or if they post any health risks. Both the National Academy
of Sciences and the FDA have determined that, in general foods derived so far from
genetically engineered organisms are as safe as or safer than conventional counterparts.
The main concern is remaining vigilant for potential allergens.

This review of genetically engineered (GE) crops is significantly more rigorous

than that faced by new crops developed through traditional means. Because of this
careful attention, new GE crops may be considered to offer a higher level of scrutiny
than other crops.

Beyond federal regulation, international trade agreements (e.g., those overseen

by the World Trade Organization [WTO]) and international standards address genetically
engineered foods and products. For example, the Organization for Economic Co-
operation and Development (OECD) has guidelines relating to environmental safety, and
the Codex Alimentarius Commission has principles for the risk analysis of foods derived
from modern biotechnology, and guidelines for assessing the safety of foods derived from
rDNA plants, microorganisms, and animals.

How are genetically engineered products assessed for safety and environmental
risks?

Assessing food safety and environmental risks involves comparison of the

genetically engineered product with its conventional food or ingredient counterpart, and
the evaluation of intended and unintended effects or differences and their impacts. Risk
assessment includes safety assessment and includes a variety of data which may include
information related to the identification of any new or altered hazards, impact on
nutritive and other composition, toxicity, and allergenicity. In regards to the
environment, effects on non-target organisms, invasiveness or weediness, and potential
for gene transfer to related species are considered.

The National Academies (NASEM 2016) conducted a detailed evaluation of

comparisons between currently commercialized genetically engineered and non-
genetically engineered foods in compositional analysis, acute and chronic animal-toxicity
tests, long-term data on the health of livestock fed genetically engineered foods, and
human epidemiological data. They concluded that no differences were found that
implicate a higher risk to human health from these genetically engineered foods than
those from the non-genetically engineered counterparts.

Their evaluation noted development in some situations of some problematic insect

and weed resistance that would require integrated pest management strategies for
sustainability in crops with insect- and herbicide-resistant traits. They also noted that

6 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

gene flow from a GE crop to a wild related plant species occurred, but
that no resultant adverse environmental effects were observed.

In regard to animal health, they reported that the large number of experimental
studies and long-term data on livestock health before and after the introduction of
genetically engineered crops showed that there were no adverse effects for animals
consuming food from genetically engineered crops. And, they found little evidence
connecting genetically engineered crops with adverse agronomic or environmental
problems.

Additionally, six of the world’s other Academies of Sciences (in Brazil, China,
India, Mexico, the Third World Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society), and the
American Medical Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science,
Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and World Health Organization have made
statements supporting the safety of the approved products of biotechnology.

3. BIOSAFETY REGULATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP)

In 1990, the first biosafety system in the developing world was established in the
Philippines by Executive Order No. 430. The aim of E0 430 was to put in place a
regulatory framework that will ensure an adequate level of protection for the safe
transfer, handling, and use of genetically modified organisms resulting from modern
applications of biotechnology. And designated to implement the biosafety system was
the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) with the principal
responsibility of identifying and evaluating potential hazards in genetic engineering
experiments or in the introduction of genetically modified organisms into the country.
The NCBP is also mandated to formulate and review national policies and guidelines on
biosafety.

National Biosafety Framework (NBF)

On March 17, 2006, the Office of the President promulgated Executive Order No.
514 establishing the National Biosafety Framework (NBF), prescribing the guidelines for
its implementation, strengthening the National Committee on Biosafety of the
Philippines, and for other purposes.

The National Biosafety Framework (NBF) is a combination of policy, legal,

administrative and technical instruments developed to attain the objective of the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety which the Philippines signed on May 24, 2000, ratified
on October 5, 2006 and entered into force on January 3, 2007. The Protocol aims to
“contribute in ensuring an adequate level of protection in the safe transfer, handling,
and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that
may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.”

The NBF can be considered as an expansion of the present National Committee

on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP), which since 1987 has played a pioneering and
important role in developing and establishing the current biosafety system in the country
and has been acknowledged as a model system for the developing countries.

7 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Composition and mandate of the NCBP

The NCBP. Under the NBF, the composition and functions of the NCBP have been
expanded. The composition of the NCBP includes the secretaries of the Departments of
Science and Technology, Health, Environment and Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs,
Trade and Industry, and Interior and Local Governments or their designated
representatives constitute the NCBP. The DOST Secretary shall serve as the permanent
NCBP Chair. Also, members of the NCBP must include a consumer representative, a
community representative from the farmers, fisher folk or indigenous sector, a
representative from industry, a biological scientist, physical scientist, environmental
scientist, health scientist, and social scientist (Fig 6.3).

Figure 6.3 The Organizational Structure of the NCBP

The Philippines Biosafety Organizational Structure

The NCBP is the lead body in implementing the NBF. It shall spearhead
coordination and harmonization of inter-agency and multi-sector efforts to develop
biosafety policies in the country and set scientific, technical and procedural standards
on actions by agencies and other sectors to promote biosafety in the Philippines. The
NCBP Secretariat also serves as the country’s focal point for Biosafety Clearing House
(BCH).

Under the NBF, the NCBP has multi-faceted roles and shall perform biosafety
policy, accountability, scientific, and capacity-building functions.

8 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

The NBF shall be reviewed periodically to identify gaps and lessons

learned from its implementation and incorporate new information that may lead to its
improvement. The NCBP shall initiate and lead such review every five years, unless new
developments require an earlier review.

The mandate of DOST. The DOST, as the premiere S & T body in the country, shall
lead in ensuring that the best available science is used and applied in the adoption of
biosafety policies, measures and guidelines, and in making biosafety decisions. DOST
shall be in charge of evaluating and monitoring regulated articles for contained use.

The mandate of DA. The DA, as the agency primarily responsible for the promotion of
agricultural development growth and rural development to ensure food security and
contribute to poverty alleviation, shall be in charge of addressing biosafety issues related
to the country’s agricultural productivity and food security. It shall take the lead in
evaluating and monitoring plant and plant products derived from the use of modern
biotechnology, as provided by DA AO No. 8, series of 2002.

The mandate of DENR. The DENR, as the agency primary responsible for the
conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s environment
and natural resources, shall ensure that environmental assessments are done and
impacts identified in biosafety decisions. It shall also be in charge of evaluating and
monitoring regulated articles intended for bioremediation, the improvement of forest and
wildlife genetic resources.

The mandate of DOH. As the principal authority on health, the DOH shall formulate
guidelines in assessing impacts on health posed by modern biotechnology and its
applications. It shall be in charge of evaluating and monitoring processed food derived
from or containing GMO.

The mandate of associated Departments and Agencies. Where appropriate, the

associated Departments and Agencies shall participate in biosafety decision making: the
Department of Foreign Affairs in promoting and protecting Philippine interests on
biosafety in bilateral, regional and multilateral forums; the Department of Trade and
Industry in relation to biosafety decisions which have an impact on trade, intellectual
property rights, investments and consumer welfare and protection; the National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples, in relation to biosafety decisions which have a
specific impact on indigenous peoples and communities; and the Department of Interior
and Local Government, in relation to biosafety decisions which have an impact on the
autonomy of local government units.

Thus, the DOST, DA, DENR and DOH shall have biosafety committees (BSC) to
handle the evaluation of biosafety proposals and monitoring of approved projects.

Stages of GMO Development in the Philippines

In the case of developing a genetically modified organism in the Philippines, series

of steps must be followed as included in the Philippines Biosafety guidelines. A GM
crop/ transgenic crop produced in the lab does not go instantly to the market. It must
undergo a long rigorous process of tests and consultations to make sure that the GM
crop is safe for humans, animals and the environment. Moreover, if a genetically
modified organism will be utilized as either feed for animals, food for human
consumption and/or will be used in the development of another product, then a different
set of guidelines will be employed (Fig. 6.4).

9 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Each stage in the development of GMOs and its further

utilization requires regulatory approvals that must be met in order to progress to the
next stage. Each stage in the development of requires evaluation and approval of
regulatory bodies (DOH, DENR, DA, etc.) before proceeding. These processes usually
take several years to finish.

Figure 6.4 Overview on the process of GM crop development. Steps 2-7 require evaluation and approval of regulatory
bodies before proceeding.

10 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
MADDELA CAMPUS
Maddela, 3404 Quirino

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

V. References

Bahadur, B., Venkat Rajam, M., Sahijram, L., & Krishnamurthy, K. (2015). Plant Biology
and Biotechnology. New Delhi: Springer India.
LLC, 3. E. (2014). Biotechnology in Agriculture. Replika Press Pvt. Ltd.
Mendoza, E. T., Garcia, R. N., Sahagun, M., & Laurena, A. C. (2009). A Report for the
National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP): Biosafety Regulations
in the Philippines. Taguig City: National Academy on Science and Technology
(NAST), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), National Committee on
Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP), and the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS).
DOST Biosafety Committee (2014). The Philippines Biosafety Guidelines for Contained
Use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Taguig City: Department of
Science and Technology.

11 | 11

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”