|
3. Welcome
remarks were made by Mr Nerius I. Roperos on behalf of the
Department of Agriculture. He stressed that the holding of
the workshop in the Philippines has helped the country's agricultural
sector in promoting the Government's interest in playing an
active part in the implementation of the GPA.
4. Mr
Kenneth W. Riley on behalf of IPGRI briefly described the
composition and role of the CGIAR and the SGRP in advancing
the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA. It was noted
that the SGRPs is a cross-cutting programme that includes
the genetic resources activities in the various CGIAR Centres
and that IPGRI is the convening centre for SGRP.
5. Mr
R. K. Arora on behalf of APAARI discussed the objectives and
functions of APAARI and its role in promoting the implementing
the GPA, especially information dissemination in the regional
and sub-regional level.
6. Mr
Virander Sibal, on behalf of FAO, discussed FAO's role through
the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources in the conservation
and sustainable use of PGRFA as a forum for current negotiations
between countries on the revision of the International Undertaking,
with the GPA as a key aspect of the system.
7. Mr
Cezar M. Drilon, Jr., Under-Secretary, Department of Agriculture
of the Philippines, delivered the opening address in behalf
of Acting Secretary William D. Dar. He underscored the need
for sustainable and equitable conservation of biodiversity
for human development. He outlined the initiatives that the
Philippines has undertaken in the furtherance of PGRFA conservation,
IPR, plant variety protection, access and community and indigenous
peoples' rights.
|
