Acceptance of biotechnology in Region 2 [Cagayan Valley, Philippines]

In the region, biotechnology was earlier perceived as 'horrific man-made creation' likened to 'angel of death with a scientific sickle' that causes fatal human plague, environmental balance, and economic sabotage. This negative regard for biotechnology led to protests in the testing sites for Bt corn production in Isabela Province in the early 2000. To neutralize the negative information and to ensure peaceful testing of Bt corn, a biotechnology awareness campaign was launched in Isabela in 2001. Part of such campaign was the creation of the first Regional Biotechnology Information Center (RBIC) in Cagayan Valley, the conduct of symposia, fora and dialogues with stakeholders and release of broadcast materials. These concerted efforts of various government agencies changed the peoples' negative attitude on biotechnology and abated the protests in the province. To sustain the information drive, another biotechnology information, education and communication (IEC) campaign and advocacy project was spearheaded by Ramos et al. (ISU) starting October 2004. The major implementation strategies under the project a regional IEC campaign and advocacy through media and the establishment and nurturance of the biotechnology information node (BIN). The IEC campaign and advocacy was able to reach various groups especially the academe, students, researchers, extensionists, some LGU [local government unit] officials and staff, health workers and medical practitioners, farmer leaders, and agency managers in Region 2. Utilization of IEC strategies was operationalized, through established facilities and systems in the region notably through working units in CVARRD spearheaded by the Biotechnology Team for the region. The regional efforts were complemented by the national campaign strategies mainstreamed in the region through the provision of IEC materials and facilitation of publicities in local and national media. A total of eight symposia were held in which majority of the resource persons/lecturers were members of the National Biotechnology Team from DA-PIU, BCP, PCARRD, and SEARCA-BIC. Media coverage of activities and press conferences was intensified as well, with local experts and collaborators as resource persons in these media fora. The research components of the project enabled benchmarking and evaluation of the efficacy of the campaign. The series of FGDs that complemented the post knowledge-attitude-practices (KAP) survey in Isabela revealed the current acceptance level of biotechnology in the region and the sustainability of the awareness campaign after project termination. Both groups from Nueva Vizcaya and Cagayan formed Biotech Core Groups during the FGD as an initial step to sustain the campaign and future biotechnology projects in the provinces. Results of the IEC campaign for biotechnology in Region 2 call for recommendations on the following areas: intensification of IEC production and distribution; need for extensive broadcast; developing farmer-leaders as information disseminators; popularization of traditional biotechnology; activation of local biotechnology coalition; and intensification of campaign especially for students or the youths.