Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8152

RECEIVED ©
UATE: DEC 07 ani

Introduced by Representative Elisa “Olga” T. Kho, M.D., FPCCP

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The early generation of Filipino farmers’ ingenuity practiced animal
biotechnology with native carabaos and carabaos from mainland China for
breeding purposes.

The Philippines is the first country in the ASEAN to initiate a Biotechnology
Regulatory System under Executive Order No. 430 in 1990 establishing the
National Committee on Biosafety in the Philippines to review and assess the
impact of the new technologies on health, agriculture, chemical and
pharmaceutical, environment and natural resources. Our country has a
prestigious performance track record of following strict scientific standard which
proudly continues to be a model of other countries. The serious efforts of Filipino
scientists, concerned national agencies, and the private sector engaged in the
development of biotechnology to benefit the health and nutrition of ordinary
Filipinos was further pursued in Executive Order No. 514 of 2008 which
prescribing the Strict Implementation of the Guidelines on Biosafety Regulations,
and Reorganizing the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines.

In a recent webinar on the “Global State of Animal Biotechnology”, the
South East Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study for Research in Agriculture
(SEARCA) invited the House of Representatives, the Judiciary, and field experts
to gather information and recommendations to explore the potentials of animal



biotechnology in the Philippines. As one of the key resource persons, this humble
representation took the opportune time to equate the importance of science
based studies as an initial guide in crafting sound policies and legislative
initiatives with a primary aim of improving our understanding of how animal
biotechnology benefits the lives of the ordinary Filipinos.

We anchor this further on the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA)’s recognition of the significance of biotechnology to advance
sustainable agricultural growth and its benefits to improve public health, food
security and mitigate the impact of climate change, thus its inclusion in the
Research and Development agenda in the national strategies in the Philippine
Development Plan 2017-2022, and the Ambisyon 2040.

The urgency of seriously drawing our attention to the benefits of animal
biotechnology to human kind, brings us back to the crisis in September 2019,
when the hog industry was affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) wherein
300,000 pigs were culled to prevent further contamination in Luzon. Recent
reports this year disclosed that the AFS infection spread to some parts of Visayas
and Mindanao. The economic consequence of the AFS threatened the
Philippine’s biggest industry which has an annual earning at P268M. The crisis
affected the food value chain from the stable sources of earnings of pork
producers’ federation and hog farmers’ organizations, the income derived by
small backyard raisers, and the shortage on the availability, accessibility and
affordability of pork meat in the local market upsetting household consumers’
daily budget. We take note also of other animal disease outbreaks in the
Philippines such as the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), bird flu, among others.

Thus, this representation seeks to raise the sense of urgency for the National
Government Agencies like the Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP), the Department
of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) to go to the forefront of the promotion of animal biotechnology based
on the following important reasons:

1. Animals have been used for years to produce medicines to advance human
health

2. Improved animal health and welfare for vaccines, medicines and diagnostic
tests resulting to safer foods for consumption.

3. The Animal Health Industry has developed medicines to prevent and treat
diseases


4. Conservation of environment and protection of endangered species.

This noble intention can be achieved through this house bill seeking to establish
a national policy framework on ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, recognizing and
advancing its global significance on the health and welfare of humans and
animals welfare, its benefits in the field of medicines which is a powerful tool in
the prevention and treatment of diseases, and mitigate the impact of climate
change on agriculture and the environment. The aforementioned national
agencies will be tasked to come up with a national policy framework on animal
biotechnology, set guidelines and strategies for its advancement and
implementation.

The passage of this house bill is earnestly sought.

aaa

REP. ELISA “OLGA” T. KHO, M.D., FPCCP

* Source: BIO Biotechnology Industry Organization, September 2010


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 8152 __

Introduced by Representative ELISA “OLGA” T. KHO, M.D., FPCCP

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROMOTION OF
ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, TO RECOGNIZE, TO FOSTER, AND TO ADVANCE ITS
SIGNIFICANT HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS FOR ANIMALS AND HUMANS,
PROVIDING MECHANISMS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Animal Biotechnology Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It shall be the policy of the State to give priority
support and appropriations to scientific and technological studies and capabilities,
and its application to the country’ s national agenda to address poverty alleviation,
protect public health, and the mitigating effects of climate change. Towards this
end, the State shall pursue the sound promotion of animal biotechnology,
accelerate the progress of its science based studies to conserve, propagate, and
protect the health and welfare of animals which has immensely contributed
globally to advance human health, prevent and treat diseases, produce safer food,
and protection of the environment and its endangered wildlife.


SEC. 3. Objectives. — In pursuit of this policy, this Act shall have the following
objectives:

a) Establish a National Policy Framework and A Ten Year Plan of Action on Animal
Biotechnology, its science based benefits and current national and international
studies and endeavors among the concerned national government agencies,
namely: The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the National
Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP), the Department of Agriculture
(DA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the
Department of Health (DOH).

The National Policy Framework shall have the essential components, as follows:
Advancement of Human Health
Improvement of Animal Health and Welfare
Safer Food and Sustainable Food Security Value Chain
Protection of the Environment vis-a-vis Conservation of the
Wildlife
Mitigation on Climate Change

b) Provide support and appropriations to existing and new programs through
clinical research by acknowledged institutions with expertise on animal
biotechnology, related diverse fields of medical/pharmaceutical capacities,
vaccines and diagnostic tests, treatment and prevention of diseases especially on
cancer, among others;

c) Provide specific support and funding for existing and new programs on animal
genomics, and genetic engineering of animals of concerned national government
agencies, the academe, the private sector, and international organizations.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a). Animal Biotechnology - refers to the use of science and engineering to modify
living organisms with the goal improving animals and to develop
microorganisms for specific agriculture use, explore drugs and vaccines for
prevention and treatment of diseases, and food technology;


b). Biotechnology — refers to the broad area of biology involving the use of
organisms to develop other products, manufacturing process to create products
to solve health, industrial, and environmental problems;

c) Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety- refers to the international agreement which
aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms
(LMO) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on
biodiversity and risks to human health;

d). Genomic - refers to the complete make up of an animal;

e). Genetic engineering - refers to the modification of an organism's
characteristics by adjusting its genetic material;

f). Transgenic - refers to the transfer of a gene from one organism to another.

CHAPTER II
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

SEC. 5 — To implement the provisions of this Act, the DOST, NCBP, DA, DENR,
and DOH shall form a National Committee on Animal Biotechnology which shall
review existing programs of concerned national departments and its attached
agencies engaged in animal biotechnology in order to rationalize and integrate
relevant studies, programs and recommendations for the establishment of a
national framework, as provided in Sec. 3 of this Act.

It shall have the following functions:

a) Formulate strategies and guidelines in the implementation of the envisioned
national policy framework with priority on the advantages of animal
biotechnology in the field of health and medicine, animal health and welfare,
sustainable agriculture and environment, as provided for in letter a, Sec. 3 of this

Act;

b) Ensure that the strategies and guidelines adhere to international agreements

entered into by the Government of the Philippines i.e Cartagena Protocol on


Biosafety. For this purpose, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shall assist
the government agencies named above in interpreting, applying and keeping
abreast of treaties, agreements and other pertinent international developments
on animal biotechnology and related fields;

c) Support and integrate existing studies and undertakings on animal
biotechnology of government education and research and development (R&D)
institutions anchored on the national government’ s holistic approachon
long term economic and development plans;

d) Support and integrate existing government education and R&D institutions
to sustain appropriate funding for long term programs on animal biotechnology;

e) Extend recognition and support multi-sectoral inputs of science based studies
undertaking of the academe, and the private sector on animal biotechnology for
potential collaboration projects;

f) Engage in a systematic efficient and effective media strategy on information
and education on animal biotechnology, and conduct of public consultations to
raise public awareness. For this part, the Department of Interior and Local
Government shall be called upon to assist the National Committee in engaging
the local government units (LGUs) to mobilize the active participation of the
barangays; and

g) Conduct periodical and annual monitoring and assessment reports every three
(3) years on the impact of the plans and strategies based on the National Policy
Framework.

SEC. 6. Members of the National Committee — In pursuance of this Act, the DOST
Secretary shall Chair the National Committee, and the following ex-officio members
are tasked, and shall be appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of
the Secretary of DOST, for a five-year term, renewable for another term or more in
exceptional cases:


a) The DOST Secretary or a designated Undersecretary;

b) The Head of the NCBP;

c) The Secretary or designated Undersecretary of the DA

d) The Secretary or designated Undersecretary of the DENR

e) The Secretary or designated Undersecretary of the DOH

f) Four members to be recommended by the National Academy of
Science and Technology of the Philippines (NASTPhil); and

8) Two (2) representatives of the private sector engaged in Animal
Biotechnology for the past ten (10) years.

SEC. 7. Secretariat. — A Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director to be
appointed by the DOST Secretary. The Executive Director should have at least ten
(10) years of professional experience in managing R&D programs.

CHAPTER III

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months following
the effectivity of this Act, the Committee shall be activated by the DOST Secretary
and the designated Executive Director. All members as stated in Sec. 6 of this Act
shall work together to produce the implementing rules and regulations within
three months after the Committee has been constituted.

SEC. 9. Appropriations — The amount of Four Hundred Million Pesos (P400M) is
hereby allotted to initially implement the provisions of this Act. Thereafter, the
funding needed to fully implement the provisions of this Act shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in
full force and effect.


SEC. 11. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules
and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the
provisions of the Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in
the Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,