KORONODAL CITY- Two local institutions are conducting studies to determine the impact of a genetically engineered corn variety.

Luisito Mangayayam, information officer of the National Food Authority (NFA) for South Cotabato, said the agency is surveying adjacent farmlands planted with palay and Bt corn - following complaints of reduced rice crops.

"Results of the survey may be known after October, the time of peak palay harvest in the province," he said.

Palay harvests neat Bt corn fields will be compared against purely palay farmlands. If the survey does show reduced outputs, it will be submitted to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics for further validation.

Commercialization of Bt corn was granted to seed giant Monsanto in late 2002. Its officials have repeatedly issued assurances "that the transgenic crop does not pose a risk to other plants, or to the human health and the environment in general."

Local critics spearheaded by the Diocese of Marbel have argued that Bt corn should not have been commercialized in the absence of a worldwide scientific consensus as to its safety.

Fr. Romeo Catedral, director of the Diocese of Marbel's Social Action Center, said the local church has finished survey forms aimed at determining Bt corn's impact on farmers.

"We will keenly pursue this endeavor and hope to have the final result by the end of the year," he said.

The survey will zero in on claims that Bt corn provides higher yields.