The Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines in coordination with the Western Mindanao State University College of Science and Mathematics (WMSU-CSM) conducted a symposium on "Techno-Advantage: Harnessing the Power of Life" last March 02, 2012 at the Garden Orchid Hotel. The said event was attended by several multi-sectoral stakeholders in the academe, health, food safety, local government units, and cultural groups in Zamboanga City.

The steering Committee Chair of the Biotechnology Implementing Unit of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Saturnina C. Halos touched on the Updates and Trends in Biotechnology while Mr. Godfrey Ramon spoke about Biotechnology Products in the Pipeline.

During the open forum, a ZCHRD delegate asked if there are researches done on cow's milk that would allow it to produce milk that has the same characteristics as that of a mother's breast milk. Mr. Abraham Manalo, Executive Secretary of the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines said that there are several researches being conducted to fortify a cow's milk with other essential vitamins and minerals to mitigate if not eliminate iron deficiency for instance.

Coco sugar, another product derived from the coconut tree, may have found itself to normalize blood sugar levels according to Mr. Ramon L. Rivera, the Department Manager of the Philippine Coconut Authority- Zamboanga Research Center located at San Ramon, this City during his discussion on the Biotech Application in Enhancing the Production of Coconuts.

The symposium ended with the discussion of Dr. Marilou C. Elago, the Dean of WMSU-CSM on the LGU's Cooperation in the Application of Biotechnology to Ensure Food Security followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding the Stakeholders.

The Western Mindanao State University is one of the founding members of the Zamboanga Consortium for Health Research and Development (ZCHRD), which was established on 2007.

ZCHRD is an organization that mirrors the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) framework at the regional level with financial and technical support of the DOST-PCHRD. The consortium is led by the AZDU with Dr. Teresita Montano as the Chairperson.