GM rice in the Philippines:

1.Group opposes genetically modified rice by German company
2."We have already eaten genetically modified rice because of gov't neglect!"

EXTRACT: "This is being done by IRRI and the Macapagal-Arroyo regime for enormous profits but they are endangering our lives. For example, the IRRI and PhilRice received around $1.2 million in 2003-2005 from different foundations pushing for gene modification research. But whatever profit they earn is not worth the risk they are taking for our very lives." (item 2)

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1.Group opposes genetically modified rice by German company
Malu Cadelina Manar
MindaNews, 22 February 2007
http://mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1820&Itemid=5

KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/21 Feb) – The Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE), a non-government organization, has urged the Bureau of Plant and Industry to turn down the application of a German company for its genetically modified rice varieties to be used for feed, food, and processing.

The LLRice 62 (LL stands for Liberty Link) is a genetically modified rice variety developed by Bayer Crop Science, a German company based in the United States.

It has two other rice varieties – the LLRice 06 and LLRice 601, which are said to be both resistant to glufosinate-containing herbicides.

Agnes Lintao, policy maker of SEARICE, said in a press statement that the approval of the application of Bayer will allow the first genetically modified rice into the country and would thus set a precedent of the entry of other genetically modified rice in the Philippines.

"Allowing Bayer's LLRice 62 into the country will completely alter the culture and traditions of the Filipino farmers, especially since we are talking about an important food crop that is synonymous to our country’s sovereignty," Lintao said.

According to SEARICE, Bayer's LLRice 601 has figured in so many controversies in the US and Europe, especially since it has not been approved for human consumption.

The SEARICE has noted that the more recent studies disclosed that the imported rice, the Uncle Sam Texas Long Grain Rice, which is being sold in leading supermarkets in the country, is found to be contaminated with LLRice 601.

"This poses potential health risks to the general public, thus, the need to take extra precaution on the approval of LLRice 62," said Lintao.

She urged consumers to better patronize locally and organically-produced rice.

The BPI of the Department of Agriculture is the regulating body in the country, which approves genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) for direct use, propagation, and commercialization.

Lintao stressed that the BPI should look beyond the promises that through genetic engineering, the world would be saved from hunger.

The BPI, she said, is mandated in evaluating the safety of genetic engineering crops being applied for approval. "But it should still consider and maintain a higher principle in the approval process. A single approval would signify a devastating impact to the country's food supply in the long term," said Lintao.
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2."We have already eaten genetically modified rice because of gov't neglect!"
KMP News Release, March 3, 2007

Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general, KMP and ANAKPAWIS nominee/ Dr. Gene Nisperos, secretary general, HEAD and RESIST convenor

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the RESIST alliance lambasted the Macapagal-Arroyo regime for its neglect and utter disregard for the safety of Filipino citizens that it has allowed the entry of genetically-modified (GM) food, especially rice into the country. These genetically-modified products are not certified to be fit for humans and in fact some of it has been tested to be dangerous to one's health.

According to Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general of KMP, and ANAKPAWIS nominee, "more likely than not we have already eaten imported rice that are genetically modified, an example of which is the Uncle Sam Long Grain rice that came from the US. It was a LL601 type of rice which is not fit for consumption and was mixed with other rice. It was able to enter the country through Public Law 480 of the US and through the World Trade Organization (WTO),"

"Aside from this, because of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), GMO rice is being planted here in the Philippines for field testing. GMO rice that is banned in other countries is brought here for further study and experimentation like that of the Bacterial Blight rice or BB rice, that have inevitably now been mixed with the safe varieties in the rice fields of Laguna," added the peasant leader.

As for his part Dr. Gene Nisperos, secretary general of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) and RESIST convenor said, "This is being done by IRRI and the Macapagal-Arroyo regime for enormous profits but they are endangering our lives. For example, the IRRI and PhilRice received around $1.2 million in 2003-2005 from different foundations pushing for gene modification research. But whatever profit they earn is not worth the risk they are taking for our very lives,"

"We may not feel the effects of GM products now but as we grow older its effects would manifest themselves, a common disease it causes is that of cancer as well as birth defects on our off springs. We must do all we can to expose this and stop it from continuing, because it is not just us and the next generations that will be affected but the environment as well," ended Nisperos.

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