The Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE) is urging the Department of Agriculture (DA) to make its evaluation process for a genetically modified (GM) rice variant "more transparent."

SEARICE also called on the DA to reject Bayer Philippines' application to commercially distribute its GM rice variant Liberty Link 62 (LL62).

"Allowing the importation of this GM rice requires transparency and public knowledge as rice is the Filipinos' staple food," said Socrates Lugasip, technical officer of SEARICE.

"The people need to know the reasons behind the government's rush to allow this while this has not been grown commercially elsewhere, no history of safe consumption by humans, much less by a population that eats rice three times a day, whole­year round," Lugasip said.

The international non-government organization also posed serious questions on the independence of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) from multinational firms producing GM products.

"We urge the Department of Agriculture to divulge the composition of the STRP and assure the public of the members' independence from any GMO [GM organism] company's interest. It is the responsibility of the DA officials to ensure that the people's staple food is not dictated by the GMO companies' profit interests," said Lugasip.

SEARICE pointed to Administrative Order 8 issued by the DA, which states that the STRP shall be "composed of at least three reputable and independent scientists to evaluate the application, particularly the risk assessment studies conducted and actions taken by relevant regulatory authorities in the country of origin, and submit its report to the Bureau of Plant Industry within 30 days from its receipt of the application."

The SEARICE representative cited a recent Greenpeace report which alleged that the STRP is composed mostly of experts who were commissioned by multinational firms to do research on genetic­plant materials.

Meanwhile, a member of the STRP said he would dismiss the application of Bayer for LL62 right away for "lack of merit."

"Would it enhance agricultural productivity, global competitiveness, lower the price of rice in the market, alleviate poverty and hunger, improve the health of the rice­eating Filipinos? These were the justifications for the country to hitch a ride with the biotechnology bandwagon in the early years of the GMO debate, but these are now conveniently forgotten in the decision­making process," said Dr. Emerlito Borromeo.

Borromeo also said the evaluation of GMO applications should not be left to the STRP alone because their perspective is confined to "technical aspects" only and could not defend the economic and socio­cultural implications of a particular GMO product.

Advocates of GM products had earlier defended the country's regulatory and approval process and said it can ensure that any GM product screened and approved will be safe for human consumption.

Source: Ng, Jennifer A., "SEARICE Urges DA to Review GMO Rice-Evaluation Process," Businessmirror, November 16, 2007

May 16, 2008

A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was granted yesterday by a Quezon City Trial Court preventing the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) from approving the application by Bayer Crop Science of its genetically modified Liberty Link Rice 62 (LLRICE62) for direct use for food, feed and processing.

“We welcome the issuance of a TRO,” said Che de Jesus, policy officer of SEARICE. “The TRO assures us that the DA and BPI will be prevented from approving Bayer’s application to import genetically modified rice for the moment."

DA Administrative Order No. 8 (AO#8) only requires the applicant, Bayer Crop Science, to publish a public information sheet (PIS) which does not sufficiently inform the public about LLRICE62. No public consultation process was undertaken to determine if LLRICE62 poses potential environmental and health risks given that rice is the staple food of the Filipinos.

In August 2006, Bayer CropScience applied for the importation of LLRICE62, ­a genetically modified rice resistant to herbicides which are also manufactured by Bayer.

October 29, 2008

by Teresa L. Debuque

World-renowned scientist Pat Mooney called on the Philippine Government, at a Manila forum this October, to investigate the use of nano ingredients in food, cosmetics, clothing, and other appliances, warning that these small, almost invisible, ingredients could enter the body and compromise a person’s immune system.

Mooney is in the Philippines to speak before the government and the scientific community on the potential impacts of nanotechnology and synthetic biology. He was invited by The Third World Network (TWN) and the Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE).

Mooney said that “no one is safe” from the effects of nanotechnology. As many as 800 products being sold in the country, including sunscreens and cosmetics, have undergone nanotechnology processes, added Mooney. Nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of matter at the atomic and molecular level.

“No nanotechnology should touch human skin,” Mooney said, explaining that the small organisms, which are virtually invisible, could seep into the skin and circulate through the body."

The market for nanotechnology is worth $700 billion and is expected to hit $2.6 trillion by 2015. “Scientists predict that within a decade, giving birth to a living, self-replicating organism from a simple bacterial genome inserted into an empty bacterial cell will become no big deal,” said Mooney.

He urged the Philippine government to regulate the use of nanotechnology to assure that it does not harm Filipinos.

July 21, 2004

The Province of Bohol passed Provincial Ordinance No. 2003-101, otherwise known as the "safeguard against genetically modified organisms (GMOs)," which would prevent the entry of genetically modified plants, animals and microorganisms into the province and penalize violations. Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera sponsored the ordinance with the unanimous approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The GMO ordinance was formally announced on July 21, 2004 by Governor Erico Aumentado, together with Vice Governor Herrera, Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog, Bohol Nature Conservation Society’s (BONACONSO) adviser Zenaida Darunday, Loreto Palapos of Bohol Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (BCCI) and Msgr. Cirilo Darunday of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. More than 200 people from different non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), government employees and the participants in the organic agriculture standards and certification seminar joined the parade and witnessed the unveiling of the GMO billboard that would be posted at the Tagbilaran City Port.

Aumentado said that all Boholano people--and not just the GMO monitoring committee--must be vigilant in safeguarding against the entry of GMOs in the province. 

The monitoring committee is composed of members from civil society organizations (CSOs) like BONACONSO, SEARICE, and Promotion of Church People’s Response; business sector representatives, such as Bohol Quality Corp., Alturas Group of Companies, and Bohol Chamber of Commerce, Inc.; and the office of the governor and the office of the provincial agriculturist.

Two messages of support from Mindanao, particularly the Kalitawhan Working group on Biodiversity and the Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG), were also read during the launch. They congratulated Bohol for being the first province in the Philippines to pass an ordinance against GMOs.

Citing national heroes who hailed from Bohol, like Francisco Dagohoy and Tamblot, they added, "[in] the age of modern technologies, the spirit and legacy of these heroes still live in the hearts of every Boholano who bravely stood up against GMOs." 

An education and information campaign on the GMO ordinance will be conducted in the different municipalities starting next month. Aside from the billboard in Tagbilaran City Port, the GMO monitoring committee also plans to put up billboards in Ubay, Tubigon, Jagna, Loon, and Talibon towns to further spread the message of the anti-GMO ordinance.