North Cotabato dads OK Bt-eggplant testing

KIDAPAWAN CITY—The field testing of genetically modified eggplants at a state university in Kabacan town in North Cotabato could go full blast, the provincial board said in a resolution passed on Thursday.

The resolution came after months of deliberation by board members on whether or not the field testing at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) violated the provincial environment code.

Although it did not ban the testing of genetically modified organisms, the provincial environment code stressed the “precautionary principle” in genetic engineering.

Vicente Sorupia, chair of the board’s agriculture committee, said during the final deliberations that the approval by the Kabacan council on the field testing should be respected by the provincial board.

“Such declaration should be upheld and respected considering that the said municipality is the host community and the primary subject of the Prior Informed Consent Doctrine,” Sorupia said.

He added that the proponents of the project have complied with “all the minimum basic requirements for the field testing set by the Bureau of Plants and Industry (BPI).”

North Cotabato Vice Gov. Gregorio Ipong said the board could not possibly halt the testing of Bt eggplant.

“It now lies on the proponents whether or not to push through with the field testing because the stoppage of the duly approved field testing in USM Kabacan is not within the powers of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP),” Ipong said in his concurring statement.

But Sorupia said the board still required the proponent to “strictly adhere to the biosafety permit issued by the BPI” even if it approved the project.

“The proponents were also required to submit all detailed planting plan, assessment of damage of all kinds, schedule of pesticides application and monitoring activities to the SP,” he said.