The Advanced Biorisk Officers Training (ABOT) and Certification Program is one of the NTCBB’s flagship programs. This has generated over 80 certified biorisk officers from key institutions, such as the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and San Lazaro Hospital both under the Department of Health; UP Diliman, UP Manila, regional government hospitals, private hospitals, and universities from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Since 2006, the US Bioengagement Program (BEP) has conducted a series of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity training and capacity building activities in the Philippines. In 2010, BEP has partnered with University of the Philippines Manila Institutional Biosafety Committee (UPM-IBC) to develop a 1-year staggered certificate program, the Advanced Biorisk Officer Training (ABOT) Program.

The ABOT program is an intensive 6-week training program with internationally recognized core competencies in best practices in biorisk management. This program capacitates institutions to designate a certified biorisk officer and facilitate the creation and implementation of Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee. This program was designed for graduates to create their own awareness programs. This has been successful as all 80 graduates of the ABOT program are now leaders in their respective institutions. With the program currently on its 5th certification, its design serves as a model in other parts of Asia, and is considered one of the most successful programs funded by the US State Department-Biosecurity Engagement Program.