ILAGAN, ISABELA, The Catholic bishop and priests in 35 towns and two cities in Isabela have led a province-wide condemnation of Bt-corn (Bacillus thuringiensis) field testing in Isabela.

In a pastoral letter read in parishes in the province, Bishop Sergio Utleg of the Diocese of Ilagan and the Isabela clergy have urged residents to oppose field testing activities in at least 11 villages in 10 towns in the province.

They said the genetically modified organism-laced corn seeds are noxious and are exposing people to risks of cancer and other diseases.

“Ito ay isang malinaw na epekto ng globalisasyon. Pero ganito man ang nangyayari hindi tayo patitina. Nananatili, ang ating pagtutol sa Bt corn. Pinaniniwalaan naming ang mga dalubhasa galling sa UP na ang Bt corn ay nagdudulot ng pagkalason . (This is a clear effect of globalization. However, we should not stop our vigilance. We will continue to oppose the Bt corn testing. We believe the statements of the University of the Philippines experts that the Bt-corn is poisonous),” Utleg said in a statement read in the parishes.

The bishop was referring to the statements of Prof. Romeo Quijano and Dr. Charito Medina, both of the University of the Philippines, who called for the junking of the field testing project due to health and environment risks.

Utleg called on local leaders to stop the project, junk other genetically modified organism-laced crops and fight the dominance of corporations pushing for the GMO-enhanced products.

The INQUIRER learned that Monsanto Philippines, the project initiator, has already planted Bt-corn at Barangay Villaluna in Cauayan City and at Barangay Carulay in Echague town although the field test has yet to be approved by the Isabela provincial board.

Most residents also complained that no public hearings were held before the implementation of the experiments on Bt corn.

Monsanto would let loose Yieldgard corn seeds injected with organisms called Bacillus thuringiensis in 32 towns in the country.

The project aims to confirm the resistance of Yieldgard against the Asiatic corn borer, evaluate the corn’s economic value and compare grain quality.

The provincial board suggested that the issue be tossed back for decision to the municipal councils of the towns identified as field testing areas.

The proposed field testing areas are Carulay in Echague; Alinguigan and San Felipe in Ilagan; Sili in Aurora; Villaluna in Cauayan City; Diarao in Jones; Masaya Sur in San Agustin; Malamag West in Tumauini; Napaccu Pequeño in Reina Mercedes; Yeban Sur in Benito Soliven; and Garita in Cabagan.

Opposition to GMOs is also strong in Mindanao areas, where the same firm conducts field testing of Bt-corn.