GOVPH

Journalists from Business Mirror and Business World took the top honors at the 2012 Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism held Thursday, Nov. 29 at the Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

Lyn Resurreccion of  Business Mirror won the first prize in the news category for her article “Corn borer remains susceptible to Bt” while In the features category, Business World’s Romer Sarmiento ranked first for his article “Genetically modified corn taking root among farmers.”

Manuel Cayon, also of Business Mirror, bagged the second prize in the news category for his article “No agreement reached in first consultation of Bt eggplant testing in UP Davao City.” The third prize went to Malaya’s Paul Icamina for his article “Scientists hit fear tactics vs gene-modified crops.

“GM crops grown worldwide,” written by Paul Icamina placed second in the features category. “PhilRice’s Biotechnology head explains why Golden Rice poses no Vitamin A toxicity risk” written by Manila Times’ Claire Mercado placed took the third prize.

In the institutional category, Business mirror placed first, followed by Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Emerson Palad, the event's main guest, who was introduced by DA-Biotechnology Program Implementation Unit (BPIU) director Dr. Candida Adalla,  led the awarding, along with veteran newsman Joel Paredes, who opened the ceremonies on behalf of Dr. Edita Burgos of  Joe Burgos Pen Inc.

Dr. Calixto Protacio, a member of the board of judges, enlightened the audience on the process undertaken in the selection of winners.
Interaksyon.com managing editor Lourdes Molina-Fernandez is the board's chairperson.

The event , now on its seventh year, was organized by The Burgos Pen Inc., Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP) and the Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center (BMARC)  in partnership with the DA-BPIU and Philippine Agriculture and Resources Research Foundation Inc.

(From left) Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center (BMARC) Program Director Joel Paredes, Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) Director Clarito Barron, Agriculture Undersecretary Emerson Palad, winners Manuel Cayon of Business Mirror, Claire Mercado of Manila Times and Lyn Resurreccion of Business Mirror, Dr. Jocelyn Eusebio, a member of the board of judges, Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Implementation Unit (DA-BPIU) Director Dr. Candida Adalla, contest judge Dr. Calixto Protacio and Jenny Panopio of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture-Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA-BIC) at the awarding ceremonies of the 2012 Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism held on Nov. 29 at Gateway Suites in Cubao, Quezon City.

Written by: Administrator   
Monday, 03 December 2012 08:58