MANILA, Philippines- About 100 peasant activists and scientists staged a protest at the gate of the Department of Agriculture in Manila to oppose the filed testing of BT eggplant and its eventual commercialization.
On the occasion of the “World Consumers Day” the activists under the banner of Resistance and Solidarity against Agrochemical TNCs (RESIST network), urged Philippine agriculture secrtary Proceso Alcala to ensure safe food and agriculture for health and livelihood and cease and desist from pursuing the field testing of genetically modified eggplant in the country.
The 100 farmer were mobilized by MASIPAG, SIBAT, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), its regional chapter KASAMA-TK and AMIHAN peasant women federation were supported by scientists and peasant advocates from RESIST network. “We urge Sec. Alcala to stop the multi-location trial of BT Eggplant intended for commercialization and revoke all permits related thereto, until all issues, including risk assessment issues, are resolved through independent scientific studies on its safety, scientific soundness and environmental sustainability by credible and independent scientists,” stated Dr. Chito Medina, RESIST Convenor and MASIPAG National Coordinator.
“Ang seguridad at probisyon ng ligtas na pagkain ng ating mamamayan ay nasa balikat ng ating mga magsasaka sa pagkakaroon ng lupang sinasaka at likas-kayang sistema ng agrikultura. Walang kapinsalaan sa kalusugan ng sambayanan kung walang ipapalaganap na nakalalasong teknolohiya sa produksiyon ng pagkain tulad ng GMO,” added Shen Maglinte from Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya (SIBAT).
Wilfredo Marbella, RESIST Convenor and Deputy Secretary General for Internal Affairs of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said, “we challenge Sec. Alcala to stop the field testing of BT Eggplant now. As an advocate of organic agriculture himself we hope that he will support our action against GMOs and that he will further promote organic agriculture that will ensure safe food for the people and will enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, protect the health of the farmers and consumers and save on imported farm inputs. ”.
The group submitted its 9-point position and demands for immediate action of the DA office such as implementation of the Organic Agriculture Law, support House Resolution 237, and the passage of Genuine Agrarian Refom Bill (GARB) and Rice Industry Development Act (RIDA). The event is also part of the culmination of their call for a “Safe Rice for Health and Livelihood!” – that coincide across 15 countries in Asia that started from 1 January to 15 March 2011 under the COLLECTIVE RICE ACTION (CORA) 2011.
The CORA 2011 is spearheaded by the Save Our Rice Campaign of Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP). In the Philippines, the CORA 2011 is being led by RESIST Network, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), MASIPAG and AMIHAN (National Federation of Peasant Women) with numerous other local people’s organizations.
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