By Mick M. Basa
BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) took a swipe Thursday on lobby groups which claimed earlier that the agency failed to establish transparency on the government's plan to release the genetically modified eggplants deemed resistant to the most destructive pests affecting vegetable farmers' yield in some Asian countries.
“We are still testing Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) eggplants. We have not yet released the seeds,” Agriculture Undersecretary Joel S. Rudinas told reporters at the Almont Hotel's Inland Resort, this city.
Earlier, the Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Action for Go Organic Mindanao questioned the perceived lack of transparency of DA to inform the public that plans to cultivate genetically modified crops (GMO) are underway – without raising the question whether the vegetables are safe for human consumption.
But Rudinas laughed off their claim, saying the tests are conducted to address the apprehensions of the groups who oppose the release of Bt eggplant here as India has already banned the said vegetable.
“The Philippines is a different case. Let's anchor our decisions on what is scientific,” he said, adding that DA has already given their explanation to lobby groups such as Greenpeace, Sea Rice and the Third World Network.
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