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| Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija. The site of the Crop Biotech Facility |
A biotech center will be constructed in Munoz, Nueva Ecija that will serve as the nexus for the implementation of technological innovations that will benefit the Philippine farming sector.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol has approved the construction of the facility that will cost Php302 million.
The facility shall include laboratories, a theater and a multi-purpose hall that can accommodate up to 800 people. The target completion of the facility is 2019.
Most of the funds will come from the P277 million assistance from the US government through the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act. The balance will come from the Philippine Rice Research Institute.
Aside from equipment and facilities, training and support will be provided to Filipino researchers in the field of biotechnology.
The facility shall also host biotechnology programs on other priority crops such as corn, coconut, coffee, sugarcane, and banana.
According to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research (Searca), the application of biotechnology has resulted in higher and better that led to increased revenues for farmers. Also, it resulted in crops that are much resilient o pests and climate change.
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