Biotech journalism awards for STAR reporters
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine STAR won third place in this year’s Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism for its outstanding contribution to the promotion of biotechnology in the country.
STAR correspondent Rudy Fernandez also bagged the third prize in the Best Feature Category for his article “GM corn production now a multibillion-peso industry.”
STAR reporter Helen Flores also received a Special Citation (Best News Category) for her article “USM experts develop 6 new HYV corn varieties.”
The Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism, named after the late press freedom fighter and biotechnology advocate, recognizes journalists who write outstanding news and feature stories on biotechnology in national newspapers.
The annual biotech award started in 2005 as part of celebrations of the National Biotechnology Week.
Other recipients of the Institutional Award were the Manila Bulletin and BusinessMirror.
This year’s board of judges is composed of Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones; Dr. Saturnina Halos, chair of the Department of Agriculture’s Biotechnology Advisory Team; Luiz Rey Velasco, chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños; Jenny Panopio, special project coordinator of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture; and Rolando Estabillo, president of Samahang Plaridel.
Agricultural journalists lauded
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., for his part, lauded the country’s agricultural journalists for playing a key role in national development by reporting vital information that boost the economy.
“I trust that you will continue writing about this vital sector so that word on the latest innovations and practices in agriculture may be disseminated to concerned stakeholders throughout the archipelago,” he said.
Belmonte also emphasized the various agricultural measures the House has passed over the years, most notable of which is Republic Act 8434 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997.
- Latest
