Recognizing that food security for a growing population as a serious concern, representatives of nongovernment organizations (NGO's) reached a consensus about the important role of biotechnology in addressing the issue of food accessibility within successive generations.

"Biotechnology is the wave of the future", said Abe Manalo, executive secretary of the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines.

At the roundtable discussion on biotechnology, held at the Palm Plaza Hotel in Malate, Manila, last week, NGO leaders had the chance to reaffirm their concern for the ability of the government in pursuing a policy that favors biotechnology as means to give the people an option to decide whether the scientific technology is useful or not.

"We have no apprehension about the gains that biotechnology has to offer, but we realize from our experience that the government has problematic constraints with the implementation," said Clive Dodd of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, representing the labor sector.

For her part, Corazon Fernando from Taguig, Rizal and representing Mare Foundation, informed the gathering that efforts in implementing biotechnology in her municipality prove successful.

"The regular floods we have had in Taguig affected the quality of our food products," Fernando said. "Biotechnology offered a solution that proved effective," she said. "Taguig has since become a showcase for the positive aspects of biotechnology."

While stressing that biotechnology is the answer, Jhune Rodriguez, chairman of Convergence and representing NGO's in integrated protected areas, mentioned major concerns regarding environmental protection, as well as health risks of the community.

Forum speakers, Dr. Saturnina Halos, chairman of the Department of Agriculture's Biotechnology Advisory Team and Dr. Nina Barzaga, gave assurances that biotechnology was proven safe by international health agencies and by scientific testing in the country.

Barzaga indicated that "our challenge is in overcoming widespread disinformation campaign funded by multinational organizations that are against biotechnology."