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Church urges to stop Bt-corn tests
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Masipag News & Views
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Nov 26, 2001 00:20 PST
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CHURCH URGES MACAPAGAL TO STOP BT-CORN TESTS
November 22, 2001
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
Inquirer News Service
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The Diocese of Marbel has asked President
Macapagal-Arroyo to stop the proposed field experiment of genetically
engineered corn by seed giants Pioneer Hi-Breed and Monsanto Phils. in
two barangays in Koronadal City.
Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of the Diocese of Marbel, in his letter to the
President, claimed that the planned field trials would be illegal as the
National Committee on Bio-safety of the Philippines (NCBP) allowed only
one field test site for gene-altered corn in South Cotabato.
The NCBP identified Barangay Maltana in Tampakan, South Cotabato as a
site for Bt-corn field experiments.
Gutierrez added that despite strong opposition from local residents, the
two multinational seed firms are seemingly bent in conducting further
Bt-corn field tests in Barangays Topland and Paraiso in Koronadal City.
As early as March, residents of Barangays Paraiso and Topland signed a
petition opposing the planned field testing in the area, but this
reportedly fell on deaf ears.
Gutierrez said on June 27, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South
Cotabato passed a resolution declaring Koronadal City GMO-free.
“I believe that any field trial that will be initiated at this time in
any site (in South Cotabato) is considered illegal since it did not go
through the required processes and approval,” an excerpt of the bishop’s
letter said.
Gutierrez urged the President to stop the planned field experiments of
Bt-corn while its environmental, health, social, economic and ethical
impacts have yet to be determined.
The bishop criticized the NCBP for its failure to provide balanced
information regarding GMOs and for serving as a conduit in promoting
technology that could be harmful to humans and the environment.
On July 29, more than 300 protesters from the farming sector and
cause-oriented group swarmed the field testing site of Monsanto in
Maltana, Tampakan and uprooted fully-grown Bt-corn plants.
Monsanto then threatened to file charges against the protesters, who
were mostly members of the militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.
The Church is also leading the war against GMOs in Isabela.
Roman Catholic Church leaders led by Bishop Sergio Utleg of the Diocese
of Ilagan and priests in 35 towns and two cities in the province renewed
their campaign against Bt-corn farming and coal mining.
In a pastoral letter read during Mass last week, Utleg said Bt-corn
farming and coal mining have been denying “the blessings of life for
millions of people.”
“The church is not against development and modern technology. Rather, we
want to ask our people and leaders: For whom is development? Who is to
benefit from these so-called development projects and modern technology?
Development must serve the needs and promote the progress of all
people,” Utleg said.
Fr. Gregorio Uanan, chancellor of the Diocese of Ilagan and leader of
the Anti-GMO Multi-Sectoral Alliance of Isabela, assailed
Monsanto-Phils. for disclosing that Bt-corn has recorded a “high yield”
in its field tests in Alinguigan 2nd in Ilagan, Carulay in Echague town,
and Villaluna in Cauayan City, all in Isabela.
Monsanto is the leading proponent of Bt-corn field tests in the country.
“Naturally, it has a high yield at first . . . but eventually the corn
borer gets immune, as researches say, and farmers would end up losing
income,” Uanan told the INQUIRER.
Dr. Arnold Estrada, Monsanto-Philippines product development manager,
has reported a “very high yield” in its field trials, a better output
than what was recorded in General Santos City.
The tests, Estrada said, were proven to be a success as the firm has
confirmed the resistance of Yieldgard corn against Asiatic corn borer
and evaluated the corn's economic value and better grain quality.
He said Monsanto would not debate with Church leaders.
He maintained, however, that Bt-corn has been proven safe after thorough
testing for toxicity, nutritional values and feed values.
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