10th & 11th Floor, Paz Madrigal Plaza, Finance

St., Cor. Industry St. Madrigal Business Park,

Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City

27 December 2023

KYLE NIÑO D. QUIÑONES

Medical Technologist II
FRANCISCO DAGOHOY MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL
INABANGA, BOHOL

SUBJECT: Invitation to Cohort 6 of the Philippines Basic Biosafety Officers’ Training (BBSO) scheduled for 15
– 26 January 2024

Dear Mr.KYLE NIÑO D. QUIÑONES

Black & Veatch (BV) is assisting the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) through the Cooperative Threat
Reduction Integrating Contract (CTR) with the implementation of the Biological Threat Reduction Program
(BTRP) and Chemical Security & Elimination (CSE) task orders in the Philippines by working collaboratively with
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
As you may be aware, DOH AO 2021 – 0037 mandates that all operating clinical laboratories are required to
identify a biosafety officer who has completed Basic Biosafety Officer Training to be granted a License to
Operate (LTO) by the year 2023. This course fulfills the requirements of DOH AO 2021 – 0037 for basic biosafety
officer training.
Black and Veatch, in partnership with The University of Philippines ‐ Manila (UPM) National Training Center for
Biosafety and Biosecurity (NTCBB), will conduct the sixth cohort of the Philippine Basic Biosafety Officers’ (BBSO)
Training on CANVAS Learning Management System (LMS). This training was developed at the request of the
Department of Health to conduct basic biosafety and biosecurity training for qualified clinical laboratories,
healthcare workers, and technical staff from health facilities across the country.
This training is a Biosafety Officer Certification Program and is composed of 40 contact hours, 24 hours in the
virtual session, and a 16‐hour hands‐on component. The hands‐on training component is scheduled at a later
date post‐training and will be announced once the schedule is finalized. The training content will address the
basic knowledge, skills, and abilities of a biosafety officer. This course is designed to provide basic biosafety
officer training to as many participants as possible. Upon successful completion of the virtual course, participants
will be eligible to receive Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. Furthermore, those who pass both
the virtual and hands‐on components will be officially recognized as Biosafety Officers (BSO).
In line with this, we are pleased to inform you that you have been nominated to participate in the Philippine
Basic Biosafety Officers' Training from 15 – 26 January 2024. Please confirm your attendance no later than 12
NN of 5 January 2024.
For a brief overview of the program and its offered courses with their scheduled dates, please see Attachment
1 of this letter. The agenda and modules are provided in Attachment 2. This course is designed with virtual

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CTR PH-L-245_23-126-114
 10th & 11th Floor, Paz Madrigal Plaza, Finance
St., Cor. Industry St. Madrigal Business Park,
Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City

lecture sessions that can be taken at your convenience. However, you should make appropriate plans to be
present and prepared for synchronous discussion sessions with instructors.
We look forward to further collaboration with you on these important activities and hope for your continued
support. Should you have any questions or concerns, you may contact our BV/CTR BTRP‐CSE Training
Coordinator, Ms. Rica Rafaela Jarcia, through email: ricarafaela.jarcia@scilorellc.com or mobile:
+699190073673 and copy furnishing ctricdocument.control@endecgroup.com.

Sincerely,

Ben Bringardner
CTR PH BTRP‐CSE Project Manager
BLACK & VEATCH

cc: C. Erff/DTRA | A. Eastburg/DTRA | H. Skinner /DTRA | L. Richardson/DTRA | LTC W. Pratt/U.S. Embassy Manila | Y.
Burdak/BV | W.Johnson/BV

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CTR PH-L-245_23-126-114
 10th & 11th Floor, Paz Madrigal Plaza, Finance
St., Cor. Industry St. Madrigal Business Park,
Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Attachment 1: Biorisk Management Program – Philippine Basic Biosafety Officers’ Training

Overview: This Biorisk Officer Certification Program is composed of 40 contact hours, 24 hours in the virtual
session, and a 16‐hour hands‐on component (the hands‐on component will be deferred until 2024 or 2025, more
details are below.) The virtual component will be available for two weeks, and participants can progress through
the course at their own pace. However, a suggested daily training agenda is provided below. The training content
will address the basic knowledge, skills, and abilities of a biosafety officer. This course is designed to provide basic
biosafety officer training to as many participants as possible. In addition to initial training, weekly, open
mentorship sessions will be held to provide reach‐back support to new BSSOs as they begin to implement Biorisk
management programs, prepare risk assessments, and tailor SOPs and plans to their laboratory’s needs.

Prerequisite(s): In accordance with DOH AO No. 2021‐0037, the designated Biosafety and Biosecurity Officer
should be a Registered Medical Technologist (RMT).

End‐state: At the completion of this course, participants will be certified biorisk officers with basic training in the
following topics:
• Principles of Biorisk Management
• Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulations
• Risk Assessment
• Mitigation Strategies
• Biocontainment
• Ventilated Enclosures
• Biological Waste Segregation and Management
• Packaging, Shipping, Handling, Transport, and Receiving of Biohazardous Materials
• Emergency and Incident Preparedness and Response
• Laboratory Manual and SOPs
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Biosecurity/Personnel Reliability Program
• Biorisk Performance Evaluation and Leadership

This training includes a full suite of Biosafety, Biosecurity, equipment use, facility operations and maintenance,
risk assessment, and Incident Response Plan templates.

CPD Points: Fifteen (15) points for Medical Technologists

Method of Delivery: Online Training Modules, Open Virtual Mentorship Sessions, and Hands‐on (deferred to
2024 or 2025)
Location: CANVAS Learning Management System (LMS)

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 10th & 11th Floor, Paz Madrigal Plaza, Finance
St., Cor. Industry St. Madrigal Business Park,
Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Attachment 2: Agenda
Date Module
Synchronous Orientation via Zoom VTC

Introduction
15 January 2024 Pre‐Test

Module 1 ‐ Principles of Biorisk Management

Module 2 – Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulations
16 January 2024 Module 3 – Risk Assessment (Biorisk Characterization and Evaluation)
Review and risk assessment assignment requirements and begin the
assignment
17 January 2024 Synchronous Mentorship via Zoom VTC

Continue risk assessment assignment.

Participate in discussion boards with instructors

18 January 2024 Complete risk assessment assignment

Participate in discussion boards with instructors

19 January 2024 Synchronous Mentorship via Zoom VTC

Module 4 – Mitigation Strategies

Module 5 – Ventilated Enclosures
20 January 2024
Module 6 – Biocontainment and Laboratory Design (Biocontainment)
Module 7 – Personal Protective Equipment

21 January 2024
Module 8 – Biological Waste Segregation and Management
Module 9 – Packaging, Shipping, Handling, Transport, and Receiving of
Biohazardous Materials
22 January 2024
Module 10 – Laboratory Manual and SOPs
Module 11 – Personnel Reliability Program
23 January 2024 Synchronous Mentorship via Zoom VTC

Module 12 – Emergency and Incident Preparedness and Response

Module 13 – Biorisk Performance Evaluation and Leadership

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 10th & 11th Floor, Paz Madrigal Plaza, Finance
St., Cor. Industry St. Madrigal Business Park,
Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Date Module
24 January 2024
Participation in message boards with instructors
Review for certification exam

25 January 2024
Complete certification exam

26 January 2024 Synchronous Mentorship via Zoom VTC

Flex day, utilized if needed due to any technical issues encountered during the
course

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