The Department of Agriculture (DA) has no far not found any scientific evidence that will substantiate a moratorium on the commercialization of the genetically-modified Bacillus thuringeinsis (Bt) corn.

Agriculture Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo Jr. told a press briefing that DA has no far not seen any scientific evidence to the issues presented by non government organizations (NGOs) led by Greenpeace International asking for the moratorium but said that DA will continue to hold dialogues with the NGOs on their request.

"There's no new scientific basis so far (that would merit a moratorium). I'm asking my people to review it," he said.

On the other hand, Lorenzo said that while Bt corn, admittedly, will not solve corn insufficiency problems of the country the as the Philippines import around one million metric tons (MT) of corn yearly, Bt corn has no far proven to address the pestilence problem of corn borers destroying corn output.

While there are other ways of controlling the pestilence of Asiatic corn borer on farms, Lorenzo said that Bt corn, widely used in North America, has been proven to eliminate the use of environmentally hazardous chemicals, reduce chemical related harm on farmers' health, and raise farmers' income.

In a separate interview, Segfredo R. Serrano, DA assistant secretary for policy and planning, said a moratorium will require another creation of a scientific and technical review panel (STRP), and this STRP should come up with new evidences "overwhelming" enough to reverse the decision that approved Bt corn's commercialization.

He said the NGOs petitioning DA for a moratorium on Bt corn's commercialization have not submitted any new scientific evidences that could rationalize a cessation on Bt corn's propagation.

"The members of the STRP (that approved Bt corn commercialization) are eminent scientists. Their assessments are trustworthy, and the results of their study are public documents. You have to constitute another STRP to hear this petition. It must independent. And they must present a contrary opinion, and based on this evidences presented to the new STRP should be overwhelming too overturn the previous decision," he said.

Serrano said that even after a new STRP will have been created, its findings must be re-evaluated.

Furthermore, he said that arguments of NGOs against Bt corn have all been answered before the decision to allow its commercialization.