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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION,
EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE COOPERATION
KNOW ALL MEN BY
THESE PRESENTS:
This Memorandum
of Undertaking is made and entered into this 1st day of July, 2005
at Bureau of Soils and Water Management Auditorium by and between:
The Department
of Agriculture, the principal agency of the Philippine government
responsible for the promotion of agricultural development through
provision of policy framework, directing of public investments, and
in partnership with local government units (LGUs) provide the
support services necessary to make agriculture and agri-based
enterprises profitable and to help spread the benefits of
development to the poor, particularly those in rural areas and
herein represented by its Secretary, ARTHUR C. YAP.
-and-
The League of
Municipalities of the Philippines, the association of 1,501
municipalities nationwide created by virtue of Republic Act No.
7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 is
mandated to ventilate, articulate and crystallize issues affecting
municipal government administration and secure, through proper and
legal means solutions thereto, and herein represented by its
National President, Mayor RAMON N. GUICO, JR.
Witnesseth that:
WHEREAS, the
Department of Agriculture, through its Philippine Agriculture and
Fisheries Biotechnology Program, and the League of Municipalities of
the Philippines have consulted local chief executives regarding
biotechnology for national and local development and as a result,
agreed to cooperate on information and technology exchange for local
government officials and municipal agricultural workers;
WHEREAS, the
policy of Government to promote safe and responsible use of modern
biotechnology and its products as one of several means to achieve
and sustain food security, equitable access to health services,
sustainable and safe environment, and industry development is
reaffirmed;
WHEREAS, modern
biotechnology through generation of investments will create more
jobs, especially in the countryside;
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 critical to modern agriculture;
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,
biotechnology has been helping in the speedy and fair administration
of justice through forensic DNA analysis and similar DNA
technologies;
WHEREAS,
biotechnology has been in existence for thousands of years and, with
its rapidly increasing applications in the past few decades, have
shown the world a way out of hunger, disease, and poverty;
NOW THEREFORE,
for and in consideration of the foregoing premises, its parties have
agreed to the following:
I. ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES
1. To link
national and local agencies and face the challenges of sustaining
information and education on biotechnology developments and
applications among local agricultural workers, whose functions were
devolved to local government units.
2. Reaffirm the
responsibility of the Department of Agriculture to ensure the proper
flow of information and technological development and to
continuously inform the public by helping local agriculturists
become front liners in educating the public on biotechnology.
3. Ensure
promotion of welfare and opportunities by exercising the function
and purpose of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines of
helping its member-municipalities seek the necessary assistance from
national government agencies in providing avenues for cooperation
among local government units and private groups so that both sector
can support the national government’s efforts in creating
opportunities for gainful employment within the municipalities.
A. The League of
Municipalities of the Philippines, with its “main role to help in
information dissemination and advocacy to member-municipalities of
vital information which would benefit them as well as assist and
support the national government in its programs and projects and to
serve as conduit of the Local Government to the National Government
and vice-versa” commits to:
* Encourage
participation of local government officials and agricultural and
planning officers in the information and techno-exchange training on
biotechnology so that the local agricultural officers are trained on
biotechnology and provided the advocacy skills for a sustained
information dissemination and education of its constituents hand in
hand with policy advocacy for legislations.
* Assist in
developing a module on Biotechnology for national and local
development to be included in the list of special courses under the
Mayors’ Development Center.
B. The
Department of Agriculture welcomes the cooperation with the League
of Municipalities of the Philippines in the achievement of mutual
goals and commits to:
* Provide
technical assistance and logistic support for training of the local
government officials and agricultural and planning officers through
the DA Biotechnology Program.
* Develop a
module on Biotechnology for national and local development as a
special course for local chief executives under the LMP’s Mayors’
Development Center.
II. EFFECTIVITY
This MOU shall
be effective immediately upon signing thereof and maybe subjected to
revisions or amendments upon mutual consent of the parties.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the parties hereunto signed this MOU on the date and place
first above written.
For the League of Municipalities of the
Philippines:
(Sgd.) Hon. RAMON N. GUICO, JR.
President
Signed in the presence of:
(Sgd.) Hon. GERARDO V. CALDERON
Secretary-General
(Sgd.) Ms. LI-ANN M. DE LEON
Executive Director
For the Department of Agriculture:
(Sgd.) Hon. ARTHUR C. YAP
Secretary
(Sgd.) Hon. SEGFREDO SERRANO
Undersecretary for Policy and Planning
(Sgd.) Dir. ALICIA ILAGA
Biotechnology Program |
