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Support to the Implementation of Executive Order No. 247: Bioprospecting and Its Implementing Rules and Regulations

SECTOR: Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The Philippines was one of the first countries to implement a regulation on the access of biological and genetic resources. Access is regulated starting 1996 upon the inception of Executive Order 247 (EO 247) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (DAO 96-20) establishing the provisions and legal procedures in the utilization of natural resources for academic and commercial purposes. The Order calls for the development of specific guidelines on benefit sharing, payment of bioprospecting fee, bond and royalties. Thus, the project "Support to the Implementation of Executive Order 247" was conceptualized in year 2000 to develop these guidelines among other secondary outputs.

Regulations for bioprospecting activities was reiterated by the Wildlife Act of 2001. The IRR of the Act, in particular calls for the formulation of a new bioprospecting guidelines which shall prescribe the procedures and requirements for evaluating and processing bioprospecting in accordance with the Act.

The project was thus given a new direction and its objectives were aligned with the needs arising from the law.

OBJECTIVES:

Develop guidelines for bioprospecting activities in the Philippines in the form of a joint DENR-DA-PCSD Administrative Order. The guidelines shall prescribe the procedures and requirements for evaluating and approval of bioprospecting proposal for biological resources under the management jurisdiction of the three agencies; standard monitoring scheme to guide the implementing agencies in monitoring compliance of researchers to agreements; the quota for collection amount of bioprospecting fee, performance/rehabilitation bond, payment of royalties and benefit sharing;

Strengthen the capability of DENR personnel in implementing the guidelines through provision of trainings/seminars on: the bioprospecting guidelines itself and related laws, wildlife identification including production of field guide on species identification;

Promote awareness of the public on the concept of bioprospecting and related laws; and

Identify the terms and reference for a management information system for bioprospecting in the Philippines which could be develop in the future.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

Joint DENR-DA-PCSD-NCIP Administrative Order Re: Guidelines for

Bioprospecting Activities in the Philippines;

Trained DENR Regional personnel on the bioprospecting guidelines and related laws;

Trained DENR Regional personnel on identification of Wildlife species with focus on threatened species;

Field Guide on selected species of Fauna and Flora of the Philippines for DENR Regional Offices;

A Primer to understanding bioprospecting and related laws in the Philippines; and

Terms of Reference (TOR) for developing a Management Information System for bioprospecting activities in the Philippines

MAJOR COMPONENTS/ACTIVITIES:

TARGET BENEFICIARIES:

1) Implementing agencies of the Wildlife Act ( DENR, DA, PCSD) and the NCIP

2) Indigenous Peoples

3) Academic and other scientific/research institutions

EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE: GTZ

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY: Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau

BUDGET

Grant Proceeds: 99,000.00 Euro

Total grant Proceeds Availed:

Forex:

GOP Contribution:

DURATION

From : March 2000 Revised Duration: 31 March 2005

To : 31 December 2001

PROJECT MANAGER/COORDINATOR: Chief, Wildlife Resources Division

( Dr. Antonio C. Manila)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1) Created the Project Technical Working Group through a PAWB Special Order. The TWG is tasked to supervise the overall implementation of the project.

2) Hired four (4) consultants to address the first objective of the Project (development of guidelines and model documents in the form of DAO)

3) Organized a project inception workshop on March 8, 2001 held at the Visitor's Center, NAPWNC. It was participated in by at least fifty-five representatives of various stakeholders from the academe, NGOs, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies and members of the IACBGR. The workshop was conceptualized to gather concerns of stakeholders which would serve as guide in developing the expected outputs under the first project objective.

4) Drafted a DAO on the guidelines for a standard monitoring scheme to guide the implementing agencies in monitoring compliance of researchers to the provisions of the Order; guidelines for determining the quota for bioprospecting; draft policy-guidelines to determine the amount of bioprospecting fee and performance, compensation, ecological rehabilitation bond to be posted by researchers; and guidelines for benefit sharing including model agreements for transfer of royalties.

5) Approval of the Joint DENR-DA-PCSD-NCIP Administrative Order Re: Guidelines for Bioprospecting Activities in the Philippines.

6)Conducted two trainings/seminars as follows:

a) Training for DENR Regional personnel on the Implementation of the Wildlife Act and the bioprospecting guidelines;

b) Training for DENR Regional Personnel on the identification of Wildlife Species with focus on threatened species

7) Reproduction of 500 copies of Field Guide on selected species of flora and fauna ( copies were initially distributed to DENR Regional offices)

8) Finalization of the Primer on bioprospecting (mass printing under negotiation)