MANILA - The Philippines could become a significant producer of biotechnology crops in about five years with the expected government approval of genetically modified crop varieties, a U.S.-based expert on biotechnology said Monday.

"We expect the Philippines to release its first biotech crops currently being developed for commercialization in about five years, that will make the country a technological leader in this field," Hector Quemada, manager of the Program for Biosafety System- Biotechnology/Biodiversity Interface (PBS-BBI) of the United States Agency for International Development, told reporters.

Quemada noted that the Philippines is currently developing several plant varieties through biotechnology.

For instance, the Institute of Plant Breeding at the University of the Philippines-Los Banos has submitted an application for approval by the National Biosafety Committee of the Philippines for the field testing of a genetically modified papaya resistant to ringspot virus and a delayed ripening papaya which would extend the fruit's shelf-life. The agency is also developing a Bt (bacillus thuringiensis) eggplant that would be resistant to insects such as the whitefly.

The Philippine Carabao Center is also working on the development of a cloned buffalo within the next two years, with the aim of increasing milk and buffalo meat production in the country.

In addition, the Philippine Rice Research Institute is also developing multivitamin enriched rice, while the Philippine Coconut Authority is making progress in coming up with a coconut variety resistant to cadang-cadang disease, which could boost exports of coconut products to Saudi Arabia, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

'There is a point where you can have assurance for safety. Beyond that is unnecessary regulation. Assuming all the implementing regulations aren't too restrictive, then the Philippines could become a global leader in biotechnology," he added.

The Philippines was the first country in Asia to commercially introduce the cultivation of Bt corn in 2003. Corn areas planted to the Bt variety could reach 120,000 hectares this year from last year's 70,000 hectares, according to Quemada.