GOVERNMENT officials have met with the academic, scientific, government and private sectors to strengthen the implementation of Administrative Order 8 issued by the Department of Agriculture which covers the promotion of agriculture-biotechnology products.

The order, issued in April 2002 by former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor, ensures the use of biotechnology products that have proven safe for human consumption and are not destructive of the environment

"The products of modern biotechnology cannot be enjoyed fully by the people unless uncertainties regarding their risks to human health and environment are minimized and managed, if not eliminated," the order read.

It was issued nearly a year after President Arroyo issued a policy statement on modem biotechnology, declaring the promotion of safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products as "one of the several means to achieve and sustain food security, equitable access to health services, sustainable and safe environment and industry development."

Scientist and agriculturists from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines, University of the Philippines at Los Baños, DA-Biotechnology Program Implementation Unit (BPIU), Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines, the GMA Corn program and representatives from the biotech industry met recently at the National Seed Quality Control Services in Quezon City and tackled issues on the implementation of the Insect Resistance Management (IRM).

The GMA Corn is the banner program of the DA that deals with the corn industry.

During the meeting, the experts reviewed the implementation and monitoring of the IRM protocol in the agriculture industry in relation to the commercialization of the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) corn.

BPI director Clarito Baron said that his office has to validate if technology developers comply with the submitted IRM program because it is one of the requirements of the BPI when it issued the first biosafety permit on Bt corn.

On the other hand; director Alice l1aga, head of the DA-BPIU, said that IRM monitoring ensures availability of substantial reference data on the safety and effectivity of the Bt technology. This is also a venue to discuss other emerging IRM strategies suitable to Philippine conditions.

"We have been monitoring the commercialization conditions set by the DA for the developers of Bt corn," Wilma Cuaterno, head of the BPI Crop Protection Division, said. "To date, we have achieved good coordination with government, industry and the stakeholders in the implementation of the IRM."

Cuaterno added that the participants have agreed to share their latest scientific findings that will further enhance important factors in realizing the success of this endeavor.".