The number of local groups backing the approval by the Arroyo government of the domestic propagation of a popular high yielding and pest resistant biotechnology processed corn variety continued to swell following the expression of support adopted by the powerful Agricultural and Fisheries Council of General Santos City (AFC) and the Provincial Farmers Action Council in South Cotabato (PFAC).

AFC and the RFAC are two of the biggest agricultural groups in Mindanao.

Edwin Paraluman, Chairman of the AFC and PFAC said Bt corn "offers developing countries like the Philippines a potent tool for addressing food security."

Bt corn is a hybrid corn variety that has been genetically engineered to become more resistant to the Asiatic Corn Borer, the primary plague in hounding the local corn sector.

Paraluman said that Bt corn is relatively superior over non-Bt corn in terms of yield, costs, profit and nutritional food security.

He cited the role of Bt corn in increasing farm yields "in the face of declining farm productivity, decreasing agricultural area, and rising rural poverty."

In addition to increased harvest, the use of Bt corn "will also generate savings for local farmers due to the drastically reduced or eliminated use of toxic chemical insecticide", he added.

Paraluman also expressed hope that biotechnology could help the country attain global competitiveness.

"Biotechnology research and product commercialization can help ensure that the country can compete in the free-trade scenario of the world economy," he added. 

The domestic propagation of a popular high yielding environment friendly and pest-resistant biotechnology processed corn variety has earlier received support from Church leaders, the scientific community, non-governmental groups, and government officials.

Other Asian countries, including China, Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia have taken steps ahead of the Philippines in the application of biotechnology to their respective agricultural sectors.