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G.E. Sparks Debate in RP
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Masipag News & Views
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Sep 01, 2001 02:20 PDT
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Friday, August 31, 2001
G.E. PRODUCTS SPARK DEBATE
By Evangeline de Vera
Malaya
The debate on modern biotechnology, particularly the commercialization
of genetically modified organism (GMO) has aroused the attention of
Congress, which is reportedly intending to investigate the National
Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines.
Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo (Bayan Muna) yesterday said in a joint
press conference of anti-GMO groups that he will file a bill in the
House seeking to prohibit all field testings of genetically modified
crops in and the entry of genetically altered crops and food products.
He also said he will file a resolution reviewing the mandate of NCBP, a
government regulatory body with regard to use and transfer of GMO and
potentially harmful exotic species. With regard to field trials, it is
supposed to function only as a recommendatory body.
“NCBP is not an agency that has an authority to allow field tests. It’s
only a recommendatory and regulatory body,” Ocampo said.
Under House rules, public hearing or consultation is to be scheduled
first to determine the necessity of NCBP and the desirability of its
functions, before the bill could be filed.
Ocampo said he will collaborate with Marikina Rep. Del de Guzman, who
recently filed a bill requiring mandatory labelling of food products
containing GMOs.
While consultation is on-going, anti-GMO advocates appealed anew to
government to declare a moratorium on experiments with genetically
engineered crops.
Militant groups held NCBP responsible for allowing the Monsanto, to
conduct a multilocation field tests in 10 different areas in the
country.
Bt-Corn contains gene from the soil bacterium bacillus thuringiensis to
combat corn borer.
Failures of the legal processes to stop the open-field trial, some 800
farmers, church people and students last Aug 29 staged a surprise attack
at an experimental site of Monsanto to dramatize their protest.
About ¼ hectare of Bt corn crops planted in Maltana village, Tampakan
town, South Cotabato were uprooted.
Monsanto “vehemently denounced” the "violent and illegal uprooting" of
Bt corn plants due for harvest this November.
The firm called the uprooting a “criminal act,” totally disregarding the
approval issued by the NCBP before planting last August. It is
considering the filing of legal action against the protesters.
But while open-field trials are going on, and this time without the
needed detasseling to prevent genetic contamination, Monsanto has yet to
do safety tests by doing a feeding study on rats.
And it argued the produce from current experiments is a critical source
of materials for the feeding test. (With report from MNV)
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