Environmentalist group Greenpeace Southeast Asia yesterday asked the Philippine government to review the commercialization of Bt corn and reconsider its policy as it poses more risks to human health.

According to Beau Baconguis, genetic engineering campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, they have sent a letter to at least four government agencies which include the Department of Agriculture (DA), Health (DoH), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Science and Technology (DoST) for the immediate review on Bt corn commercialization and to put a halt on its ongoing study on genetically engineered crops.

"The fundamental basis of genetic engineering is invalid. Genetic engineering gives rise to unexpected and unpredictable effects rendering any risk assessment unsound and irrelevant," she added.

Baconguis said at present, the DENR will conduct an independent study on the harmful effects of genetically modified organisms (GMO) to the environment and how they would effect on the human health.

She noted during their meeting with Environment Secretary Elisea Gozun, the DENR chief commits that her department will conduct a separate inquiry about GMOs at the controversial Bt corn.

The group, however, reiterates its call, saying the irreversible release of genetically engineered organisms to the environment can cause serious harm and is not consistent with the precautionary principle as enshrined in the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol.

"We also called on the regulatory authorities to take this modern science into account and not to grant any future authorizations for the deliberate release applications of GMOs. Also we called on the government to stop funding research projects that involve the release of GMOs into the environment and redirect funding to support agricultural research based on modern scientific knowledge and understanding of the genome, such as marker-assisted breeding," Baconguis said.

At present, non-government organization activists and farmer leaders are on a hunger strike in front of the DAR office to urge the government to stop further field testing as well as the impending commercialization of GMOs in the country.

According to Mark Cervantes of the Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment, they would rather go hungry than let the country suffer the adverse environmental consequences of GMOs in the country.