Proclamation No. 1053, s. 2006

-MALACANANG ..Manila' . .. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES PROCLAMATION NO. 1053. DECLARING THE FIRST WEEK BIOTECHNOLOGY WEEK" 2006 AS "NATIONAL OF JULY WHEREAS, it is the policy of Government to promote safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products as one of the several means to achieve and sustain food security, equitable access to health services, sustainable and safe environment, and industry development. WHEREAS, biotechnology sustains increased crop yields and farm productivity, and enhances the quality, value, and suitability of crops for food and other uses that are complementary to modern agriculture; WHEREAS, biotechnology is behind many breakthroughs in human health care that have benefited millions of people through the development of vaccines, antibiotics, and other drugs that cannot be made in any other way; WHEREAS, biotechnology has delivered benefits to our environment including protection of water quality, conservation of topsoil, improvement of waste management techniques, reduction of chemical pesticide usage, production of renewable energy and biotechnology-based products, and cleaner manufacturing processes; WHEREAS, there are already biotechnology-based industries in the country that would benefit froln the vveek-iong advocacy campaign through recognition of their significant public contribution; WHEREAS, biotechnology has been helping in the speedy and fair administration of justice through forensic DNA analysis and similar DNA technologies; WHEREAS, biotechnology increases the pace of technology'developmentfor medical, agricultural, industrial, and envtronmental applications; . .. : ': r:., ".:: .' '-'. _:, ',-, I IIIllllilIIIIIII~ :~;:'::...;.,;::': _."::...,.:.:";:;: .""::"i.' PHoloir'ni' 35361 ,..., '. ~..'-'-;-';.::"..:-."..'....i..-':-.;:":i.:';"'.-',.-:'.i:'.:~.:.:':.:.;',.:;; :::~~.:::::j:.,:..,'..."'.:':'.':;'.':;'_C::':.'~~:.::-:..'.:.::::.;..,-. : WHEREAs,": pnc. awarness~,. educatidfl( and -understa'nding .qf' biotechno!ogy IS', .essentia1.fo[ tiJe responsible .ppi).ctIOr1 c1nd -Tglati6n of- this- newtechnology;,and!::.,... -,..' '" " .:. '.. .:.', " 'c.. '. ".':. :"'"; ,A. ..:. ...~ WHEREAS, biotechnoIQgy;: thiS. year 2006,.is celebrating glQbally a decade of achievements in resear<;:h arid, development and its commercial applications in agriculture towards a more healthy and safe use of the products of modern biotechnology. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby proclaim the first week of July 2006 as National Biotechnology Week. The Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall compose a National Biotechnology Week Committee to be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology. The Committee shall formulate a program for the meaningful celebration of the National Biotechnology Week. They may call upon other government agencies and non-government organizations to assist in its implementation. IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed. Done in the City of Manila, this Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six. day of , in the year of 3rd Mly F By the President: A1~ EA ERMItA Executive Secretary PGM~ HOlogram' 353,6l