Congress is willing to give biotechnology a chance to prove its worth.

At a Senate legislative forum held at the Laurel Room Friday, Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr., said he was "more than willing to support as urgent the need to legislate the commercialization of biotechnology products." He and several other senators were convinced that the new technology is safe for human consumption and has been proven to be harmless to the environment.

Magsaysay told the gathering of scientists, doctors, and other concerned individuals that his main focus in biotechnology was food productivity and its effect on health.

"Biotechnology is a big factor in trying to make agriculture more productive," he said. "I believe that biotechnology, if given strict guidelines to ensure safety to health and the environment, would make marginalized farmers more productive with lesser use of chemicals and pesticides." The senator said the country's "big neighbor," China, has embraced Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) corn and Bt cotton and has reaped the profits of their harvests.

He said that "if the technology is not given the chance to prove its worth in the Philippines, then China will definitely inundate the rest of the world in the production and exportation of biotech products." Magsaysay, chairman of the Senate committee on science and technology, said he has discussed the issue with the senators and congressmen and they have agreed to urgently study the matter.

"I think, personally, our lawmakers are open to the idea of a technology through biotechnology or genetically modified organisms (GMOs)," he said.

The solon also said that the legislative process might encounter some resistance from small interest groups, but he downplayed their capability to lobby against the issue.

"They (anti-biotech groups) have their own visions and I respect them, but what is really deciding is what majority of the people needs -- the people will have to decide and not these small interest groups," Magsaysay said.

The senator also said he has strong confidence in the competence and integrity of Filipino scientists. "A lot of them are going to Europe and the US, and, except for some basic laboratory equipment, they're even as good or better as the next fellow." On the other hand, two respected scientists told the lawmakers this new technology has to be managed to mitigate any negative aspects.

"The Senate and the House should allow government to regulate the technology in a manner that would be beneficial to the economy and the growing population," Dr. Emil Javier, former UP president and Minister of Science said.

"Senate legislation on biotechnology will further strengthen the government regulatory system and ensure a fail-safe system," he said.

Javier noted, "The application of the modern biotechnology on agriculture, food, health, industry and environment is part of the wave of the future." He said that as with other technologies, there will be risks and benefits.

There will be winners, and there could very well be losers as well.

"Those societies which can develop and apply these new technologies to advance their national interests and improve their productivity will enjoy a competitive advantage over those who refuse to and/or cannot," Javier said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Perla Santos-Ocampo, president of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), said the scientific communities throughout the country hope to get help from the legislators in setting up a regulatory framework so that there will be control on biotechnology products.

"Before there was the Iron Age, the Bronze Age, the Steam Age, the Space Age, now we have the Biotechnology Age. I am confident our legislators will approve the use of biotechnology because this modern technology is safe for humans and the environment," she said.

Dr. Benigno Peczon, president of the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP), on the other hand, believed that the Senate legislative forum will help clarify issues so that collectively, decisions which are good for the country would be made.

"We must not fall into the trap of deciding not to decide," he said. "It is time for the informed leaders to consider biotechnology in depth and then do the right thing."