The Department of Agriculture (DA) has renewed its campaign to generate public acceptance of genetically-modified (GM) crops, particularly Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn that is now being cultivated in 400,000 hectares across the country.

It has brought together scientists, members of the academe and industry associations and tackled the matter during a seminar conducted by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) entitled “Modern Biotechnology and Agriculture: The Case of Biotech Maize in the Philippines” at the BAR office in Quezon City.

The seminar was aimed to provide insights and foster public understanding of modern biotechnology, particularly on Bt corn, to allay fears about genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

GMOs are products of biological engineering that allow the transfer of specific genes within the organism or genes from one organism to another. Bt corn is a GMO because of a certain gene from the naturally-occurring soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that has been transferred to corn.

This gene, coded for the production of a specific protein, delta-endotoxin protein, can be used to control specific insects such as corn borer and other Lepidopteran pests that cause tremendous losses to the industry.

Dr. Dolores A. Ramirez, national scientist and university professor emeritus of genetics and plant breeding at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), presented the structures and protocols developed by the government for the introduction, testing, propagation, and commercialization of modern biotechnology products in the country.

Dr. Ramirez stressed the role of the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) in overseeing compliance with biosafety policies and guidelines including research in the country.

NCBP is an organized inter-department committee comprised of scientists from the DA, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health (DoH) and Department of Science and Technology (DoST).

Dr. Flerida A Cariño, physical scientist and member of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Biosafety Committee, and professor of biochemistry at the Institute of Chemistry in UP Diliman also presented the technical descriptions of Bt corn. She also narrated the problems they encountered with both anti- and pro-GMO groups during the process of rigorous trials.

Dr. Cariño said Bt corn has stirred animated and passionate debates on the streets, in academic circles, in mass media as well as in both chambers of the Philippine legislature. In fact, the anti-GMO groups have filed petitions with local government units (LGUs), the House of Representatives, the Senate, and even the Supreme Court (SC) that have resulted to various congressional resolutions and Senate bills.