Agriculture and health experts in the Philippines visited
the University
of Southern Mindanao (USM) last February 3-4 to explain
to the local governments of Davao and Cotabato the safety
of the fruit
and shoot borer resistant Bt 'talong' (eggplant) in
a forum on "Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
through Crop Biotechnology."
When it comes to genetically modified foods, all safety
aspects or components are characterized, explained Dr. Nina
Gloriani, Dean and Professor of Medical Microbiology and
Immunology College of Public Health, University
of the Philippines Manila. According to her, "Safety
profiles of GM foods [are] well-documented through several
scientific studies."
Dr. Saturnina Halos, Chair of the Department of Agriculture
(DA)-Biotechnology Advisory Team, meanwhile, pointed out
that approving Bt eggplant would not be a violation of the
Organic Agriculture Act of the country. "They say that
farmers should have the right to organic farming. Then,
farmers should also have the right to GM-based farming.so,
there really should be coexistence. It really depends on
the farmer's situation."
Dr. Candida Adalla, Chief of DA-Biotechnology
Program Office, said that Filipinos should be thankful
for the country's concrete regulatory guideline for GMOs.
The DA Administrative Order No. 8, she explained, has been
updated in line with the international standards for regulation.
"We have to conform, align, and adapt our policies
so that our products can be exported and compete in the
international market," she explained. On Bt talong,
she said that, "When we talk about biotechnology, it
should be in the context of technology, in the context of
science, not in the context of emotion or prediction."
Meanwhile, USM President Dr. Jesus Antonio Derije called
for the university students and professors to hold on the
privilege and liberty of the university to implement the
trial. "We should be given the right and freedom to
find out the truth about their claims," he asked. "We
should uphold our right and freedom to conduct research
that we know could be beneficial to many people," he
said. "USM is here to support activities that we know
would be advantageous to the people," he said.
For details on the seminar and on biotechnology in the
Philippines, contact Jenny Panopio at jap_at_agri.searca.org.
(Jenny
A. Panopio and Sophia
M. Mercado)
