The Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO) recognized nine outstanding Filipinos in the field of biotechnology during the 4th Filipino Faces of Biotechnology Awards Night held on November 26, 2019 in Quezon City.

“We’re hoping that we can communicate some more how important your work is to the public,” OIC Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rodolfo Vicerra told the awardees after he bowed to them to show his respect.

According to the Undersecretary, the people involved in biotechnology are key elements particularly to the modernization paradigm that is part of Secretary William Dar’s “New Thinking in Philippine Agriculture.”

“You can help us increase productivity and produce more for the country,” Vicerra said as he encouraged the biotech advocates to help the DA bring better technologies to the countryside.

DA-BPO Program Director-Coordinator Dionisio Alvindia said that the Faces of Biotechnology Award is given to outstanding Filipino individuals who have played a significant role in the advancement of biotechnology in the country.

He added that the award recognizes the champions of biotechnology encompassing the fields of agriculture, health, environment, information and education, and policy.

The 2019 Filipino Faces of Biotechnology Awards were given to the following biotech advocates:

• Cynthia T. Hedreyda (Outstanding advocate for biotechnology education)
• Milagros M. Greif (Outstanding researcher on urban pest control through biotechnology)
• Nathaniel P. Dugos (Outstanding researcher in bioengineering)
• Ernelea P. Cao (Outstanding educator, researcher, and advocate on biotechnology)
• Gisela P. Concepcion (Outstanding researcher on medical and cosmetics through biotechnology)
• Claro N. Mingala (Outstanding livestock biotechnologist)
• Candida B. Adalla (Outstanding leader in pioneering developmental initiatives for biotechnology)
• Maria Monina Cecilia A. Villena (Outstanding science communicator for biotechnology)
• Gabriel O. Romero (Outstanding researcher on rice genetics and crop biotechnology)

“We want to serve humanity. That’s the objective of research,” Dr. Dugos stressed in his acceptance speech.

The awardees shared that the recognition of their work is an added bonus because they love their profession, which allows them to contribute to the country’s progress.

Since its initial inception in 2016, the DA biotech award has been given to 25 champions as part of the annual celebration of the National Biotechnology Week. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)