Origins: Building Safety into Discovery

The story started at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) of the UP National Institutes of Health (NIH). Then Director Dr. Raul V. Destura created the Molecular Diagnosis for Infectious Disease Program to boost the country’s diagnostic capacity for infectious diseases. This effort underscored an urgent need for a biosafety framework to ensure that laboratory research was performed in a safe and secure environment.

Globally, biosafety and biosecurity have advanced in tandem with the rapid development of biotechnology. However, the Philippines lacked the necessary governance and institutional frameworks to oversee Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC), a type of scientific research that, while beneficial, could be misused to harm humans, animals, or the environment. As highlighted in studies by Chua (2008), Millet (2017), and Lentzos (2015), such risks stem from research that manipulates pathogenicity or virulence, synthesizes pathogens and toxins from scratch, or develops new delivery systems for biological agents.

Addressing these complex challenges required not only regulation but also capacity building and education at the national level, a challenge that the Philippines was prepared to meet.

The Beginning: A Catalyst for National Capacity

In 2008, four faculty members from the University of the Philippines, Dr. Irma Makalinao, Dr. Vicente Belizario, Dr. Regina Berba, and Dr. Raul Destura, attended the Biosafety and Biosecurity Training Workshop organized by the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) under the U.S. Department of State Bioengagement Program.

After returning home, they saw the need to localize and build biosafety capacity. That led to the creation of the “Train-the-Trainer Program in Biosafety,” led by Dr. Destura, to develop a lasting group of local experts who can share knowledge and help the Philippines become self-reliant in biosafety practices.

Early challenges were formidable:

• A shortage of certified biosafety trainers in the country
• The absence of a context-specific curriculum tailored to the Philippine research environment

Through international collaboration and successive training groups, the team successfully built a core of Filipino biosafety faculty. By the fourth group, the program reached a significant milestone: a 100% Filipino-led training team.

The program’s success reverberated regionally. Graduates not only achieved 100% passing rates in international certification exams under the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) but also consistently ranked among the top global performers.

Institutionalization: From Program to National Center

As the program’s impact grew, the need for a dedicated institutional home became evident. On February 22, 2018, during the 1333rd Meeting of the UP Board of Regents, the National Training Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity (NTCBB) was officially established under the UP National Institutes of Health.

The Center’s flagship initiative, the Philippine Advanced Biorisk Officers Training (PhABOT) and Certification Program, has trained and certified over a hundred Advanced Biorisk Officers from key national institutions, including:

• The Department of Health and its regional hospitals
• Private medical institutions nationwide
• Universities and research centers across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao

The NTCBB also expanded its expertise beyond human health. It provided technical support for the construction and renovation of Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RADDLs) in Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and several regions in Mindanao, promoting a One Health approach to biosafety that combines human, animal, and environmental protection.

During the 1402nd Meeting of the Board of Regents last August 28, 2025, the NTCBB was officially renamed to the National Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity (NCBB) which better reflects the Center’s comprehensive functions and critical role in advancing biosafety and biosecurity in the country.