As the principal agency of the Philippine government responsible for the promotion of agricultural development growth, rural development so as to ensure food security and contribute to poverty alleviation, the Department of Agriculture shall take the lead in addressing biosafety issues related to the country's agricultural productivity and food security.  In coordination with other concerned department and agencies, and consistent with the requirements of transparency and public participation as provided in Sections 6 and 7 of the NBF, it shall exercise such jurisdiction and other powers that it has been conferred with under existing laws.  It shall also take the lead in evaluating and monitoring plant and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology, as provided in the DA-DOST-DENR-DOH-DILG Joint Department Circular #1 Series 2021.