ILOILO FARMERS RALLY VS. BT CORN

Iloilo City, May 22, 2003 - - More than 100 farmers and members of a 
nongovernmental organization picketed the regional office of the Department 
of Agriculture here on Tuesday, reiterating their demand to stop the 
commercialization of the genetically modified corn variety "Yieldgard."

The group brought along a sack of organic corns, boiled and ate them to 
dramatize their stand against "Yieldgard" and their vow to cultivate and 
eat only organic corn varieties. Some of the farmers present were among 
those who participated in a one-day fast two weeks ago in solidarity with 
the hunger strikers in Metro Manila.

The group claims that "Yieldgard," a variety of the controversial Bacillus 
thuringiensis (Bt) corn, which was developed by Monsanto, is "hazardous to 
human health, the environment's biodiversity and the farmers' long 
preserved locally adapted native corn varieties."

Their protest action came as part of a series launched by groups that 
include farmers, nongovernmental organizations and scientists around the 
country to register their opposition to the government's approval of the 
sale of "Yieldgard" in the country.

The commercialization of "Yieldgard" was approved in December last year. 
Last week Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo junked petitions to impose a 
moratorium on Bt corn commercialization. He told journalists here on May 14 
that those against the Bt corn should follow a process and not resort to a 
hunger strike because "this cause is not worth dying for."

Georie Pitong, Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Ikauunlad ng Agham 
Pang-Agrikultura (Masipag) Visayas coordinator, told Today that they are 
sounding off an alarm to all farmers, particularly those who plant corn, to 
be "extracautious" in buying the corn seeds.
"We have learned that the Bt corn [Yieldgard] is being promoted in Antique 
and here in Iloilo by several seed dealers. We want the people to know that 
this corn variety, which we heard is being sold at P4,000 a bag, carries a 
toxin which would harm all of us," Pitong said.

The group also sought an audience with regional director Ricardo Oblena, 
but he was not around. Instead, Lucila Habaradas, administrative officer, 
received from the group a copy of the statement it wanted to deliver to 
Oblena.

The statement urged Oblena to set up monitoring mechanisms to determine the 
exact location, area and identities of farmers planting Bt corn. The group 
also wants full disclosure on the hazards and other information about the 
Bt corn to the farmers and other interested parties.

The group claimed that Bt corn would contaminate and damage adjoining farms 
and crops, and develop resistant strains of pests and diseases, besides 
endangering farmers and others who may come close or eat Bt corn, including 
products made from Bt corn. (By REXCEL JOHN SORZA, TODAY Correspondent)