Genetically modified foods are as safe as their conventional counterparts, Dr. Santiago Obien, consultant on Institutional Development Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agriculture Research, said yesterday.

Only safe and environmentally friendly GMOs are allowed by the government, said Obien, who was a resource person on the third day of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan review of its ordinance banning GMO products.

Obien also said that the Negros Occidental GMO ban is contrary to the national policy of using biotechnology to improve productivity and make our industry competitive in both the local and global markets. Obien was also former executive director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute.

The Philippines looks at GMO as another approach to increasing food sufficiency through increased yield, Obien said.

He also noted that in the Philippines production of GM corn has increased with 126 hectares in 2002, 2003 – 1,0783 ha; 2004 – 59,761 ha; 2006 – 103,698 ha; 2007 – 313,910 ha., noting their higher yield and increased in crop for farmers.

Advances in GMO research in the Philippines in abaca, papaya, mango, eggplant, and golden rice are also in the pipeline, he said.

He also said that to implement the GMO ban in Negros, the province needs equipment and scientific manpower resources – to determine whether a product in the farms and in the market, grocery stores, or in transport have or do not have GMO-derived products, which he said would cost P3 billion.

If the ban GMO is enforced, Obien said corn, soybean, canola oil, products derived from these crops – for food, feed cannot enter Negros Occidental.

Products produced by GM enzyme – fruit juice, beer, detergents, cotton, clothes, cheese, gelatin, medicines/drugs such as insulin for diabetics -- would also be covered by the GMO ban, he added.*

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