By Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY - The National Academy of Science and Technology-Philippines (NAST-PHL) has conducted on Tuesday a Biotechnology Information, Education and Communication (IEC) forum at D’Hotel and Suites this city.
The one-day activity aimed to create awareness and provide science-based information on modern biotechnology among policy-makers, key personnel of the different local government units (LGUs), DOST personnel, science teachers and students from Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, media and the general public.
Dr. Marcos Valdez Jr, Biotechnology Focal Person for region 7 said the forum also aimed to give the public the right information about biotechnology especially the farmers.
”Lots are already products of biotechnology. This has been used not only in the Philippines but all over the world especially in the field of agriculture,” said Valdez.
Last year, Valdez said, the Philippines became corn self-sufficient country and has already exported corn to South Korea.
In a study conducted from 2000-2012, Dr. Antonio Lorena said the farmers who usually planted hybrid corn had increased their harvest by 19 percent when they shifted to GM-Bt corn. The farmers had also reduced their production costs as GM-Bt corn is resistant to corn-borers pests and other insects.
Lorena said in 2012, 700,000 hectares in the Philippines have been planted with Genetically-Modified Bt corn. Philippines is the first country in Asia to plant Genetically Modified food crop.
However, Lorena pointed out that biotechnology does not compete with the organic farming pushed by the government. ”We only provide the farmers with the right information and never compete with the organic farming pushed by the government.”
Acording to Lorena, biosafety regulations is strictly based on international standard. In June 2013, Philippine Food and Drug Administration declared that all GM foods in the market are safe for human consumption.
Dr.Marilou Elago, Biotechnology Focal person for region 9, in her lecture cited the vital role of the farmers in improving the lives of the people, particularly those living in the countryside.
Aside from Dipolog, NAST-PHL has also conducted IEC forum in other parts of the country like Tuguegarao, Puerto Princesa City, Cebu City, and Dumaguete City.
