THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has signed a policy directing the establishment of a sustainable and effective system in managing threats of pests and diseases that pose risks to Philippine agriculture.

This was formalized through Agriculture Secretary William Dar's issuance of Memorandum Circular 12, series of 2021 last June 22, titled 'Establishing a Sustainable and Effective Biosafety, -Security and - Surveillance (BSS&S) System in the Department of Agriculture and Adopting the Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) as its Roadmap.' The new policy provides the organizational structure of the BSS&S System specifying functional linkages and responsibilities, and funding.