As the lead body in implementing the NBF, The NCBP shall have the following powers and functions:

1. Biosafety Policy Functions

• Assist concerned departments and agencies in formulating, reviewing, or amending their respective policies, measures and guidelines on biosafety;

• Hold public deliberations on proposed national policies, guidelines, and other biosafety issues;

• Provide assistance in the formulation, amendment of pertinent laws, rulesandregulations;

• In coordination with concerned departments and agencies andconsistent with therequirements of transparency and public participation, shall take the lead in periodically reviewing the NBF;

• Issue detailed guidelines on the conduct of socio-economic impact evaluation of biosafety decisions; and,

• Propose to Congress necessary and appropriate legislation.

2. Accountability Functions

• Monitor the implementation of the NBF by concerned departments and agencies;

• Ensure coordination among competent national authorities that have shared mandates;

• Ensure that NCBP guidelines, and the principles and processes established in this Framework are complied with by concerned departments and agencies; and,

• Review procedures for accountability in biosafety decision-making by competent national authorities, with particular emphasis on ensuring independence and impartiality in such decisions.

3. Scientific Functions

• Facilitate the study and evaluation of biosafety research and control and minimize the concomitant risks and hazards associated with the deliberate release of regulated articles in the environment;

• Identify and evaluate potential hazards involved in modern biotechnological experiments or the introduction of regulated articles and recommend measures to minimize risks;

• Recommend the development and promotion of research programs to establish risk assessment protocols and assessment of long-term environmental effects of regulated articles;

• Develop working arrangements with the government quarantine services and institutions in the evaluation, monitoring, and review of projects vis-à-vis adherence to national policies and guidelines on biosafety;

• Review and develop guidelines in the risk assessment of regulated articles for contained use;

• Assist other agencies in developing risk assessment guidelines and procedures of regulated articles for field trials and commercial release;

• Review the appointment of the members of the Institutional Biosafety Committees created by institutions engaged in activities involving regulated articles, upon recommendation by their respective heads of institutions;

• Publish the results of internal deliberations and agency reviews of the NCBP; and

• Hold discussions on the comparative ecological, economic and social impacts of alternative approaches to attain the purposes/objectives of the proposed genetic modification products and/or services.

4. Capacity Building Functions

• Assist in the development of technical expertise, facilities, and other resources for quarantine services and risk assessments; and

• Take the lead in developing and implementing a national capacity-building program for biosafety.