BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 22 (PIA) – The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) clarified that it does force farmers to use biotechnology in agriculture especially if there is an ordinance issued by the local government that promotes organic farming.
NAST Academician Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza said the institution respects the local government’s decision to support organic farming.
However, it is still part of the agency’s thrust to conduct Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaigns to help people deepen their understanding and widen their knowledge on biotechnology particularly in Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
Mendoza noted that biotechnology is not only applied in agriculture but also in the fields of environment, industry and medicine.
Recently, NAST conducted an IEC forum on Biotechnology in Silliman University, Dumaguete City. The forum was attended by farmers, science teachers from different schools, representatives from local government units in Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces.
One of the topics discussed in the forum was the current application and products of modern biotechnology. In the field of agriculture, prominent products of biotechnology are the bt-corn and the golden rice.
Provincial Organic Agricultural Officer Joshua Demerre then raised the provincial government’s ordinance promoting organic agriculture to its farmers.
The Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAO) promotes organic farming due to its natural benefits and also as a way of climate change adaptation.
Organic farming reduces the emission of carbon dioxide that makes the atmosphere hotter.
However, Mendoza said her institution sees no conflict with the ordinance and the IEC campaign saying they only want to disseminate science-based information on biotechnology.
Aside from information on biotechnology and GMOs, Mendoza also talked about the governing laws on biotechnology in the Philippines.
She cited the role of the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) to identify and evaluate potential hazards in genetic engineering experiments in the country or the introduction of GMOs.
NCBP is also in charge of formulating and reviewing national safety guidelines and policies on biotechnology.
With this, Mendoza said the government is performing all measures to ensure the safety in the use of GMO products in the country.
The National Academy of Science and Technology is also an agency under the Department of Science and Technology. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)