Philippines is frontline in global fight over GMOs, expert says

The war on genetically-manipulated organisms (GMOs) goes on, and the Philippines is its battleground, according to Dr. Wayne Parrott, a plant breeding and genomics expert from the University of Georgia.

All eyes were on the Philippines when anti-GMO groups KMB and Sikwal-GMO destroyed a field-testing ground for Golden Rice in a Department of Agriculture (DA) compound in Pili, Camarines Sur on August 8.

Golden Rice is a beta carotene-enriched variety being developed to combat Vitamin A deficiency.

The field-testing done in Pili, Camarines Sur was only one of five being done by the Department of Agriculture to ensure that they are suitable for cultivation before being distributed commercially.

"The global spotlight is now on the Philippines," Parrott said in a media workshop on September 27.

"With the recent destruction of (golden) rice that took place here in the Philippines, you know the center of development has been here. It attracted global attention as it had never attracted it before," he said.

"Golden rice had more positive press out of that one act of vandalism than it (ever) had up until now."

Worldwide attention

The vandalism prompted a change.org petition signed by over 6,000 plant scientists worldwide condemning the destruction of the field-testing site.

"No group, regardless of its intentions, has the right to condemn a technology without evidence. It is an unconscionable criminal act to destroy a field trial conducted in accordance to international safety norms," the statement said.

Parrott also cited a New York Times article entitled "Golden Rice: Lifesaver?" that featured the destruction of the field trial that "touched a nerve among scientists around the world".

"A looming decision by the Philippine government about whether to allow Golden Rice to be grown beyond its four remaining field trials has added a new dimension to the debate over the technology's merits," the article said.

A warning

What happens to golden rice will be a pivotal event.

"Golden rice is seen by many groups, particularly anti-GMO lobbyists, as the one last thing that stands between a world free of GMOs and a world where all the crops are GMOs," Parrott said.

Anti-GMO lobbyists will make "every attempt possible" to stop golden rice. And both camps will be fighting for its claims.

"Expect more lawsuits, and a lot of very deliberate information and deception," he said. "This is ground zero. This is the frontline." — TJD,

GMA News

Continue reading

Corruption linked to $2.1-billion Bataan Nuclear Power Plant’ Marcos crony goes for Trial: Supreme Court

Herminio Disni, Marcos corny linked to corruption to the construction of the mothballed $2.1-billion Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

The Supreme Court Monday gave the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court the "go-ahead" signal to proceed with the criminal case against alleged Marcos crony Herminio Disini.

In a ruling made public Monday, the SC's 1st Division denied for lack of merit the petition filed by Disini questioning the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan to prosecute him and if the allegation against him has prescribed.

Under the law, the Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases of public officers and employees, including those in government-owned and -controlled corporations.

However, in its ruling, the SC said even if Disini was a private individual, he can be prosecuted by the Sandiganbayan since the Presidential Commission on Good Government who filed the case against him was allowed by law "to recover ill-gotten wealth and this covered Marcos' immediate family, relatives, subordinates, without distinction as to their private or public status."

Disini was charged with a case for corruption of public officials in 2004 for pushing for the construction of the mothballed $2.1-billion Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

He was also charged with a case for violation of the Anti-Graft Law when he allegedly used his connection to then President Ferdinand E. Marcos to request and receive from the Burns and Roe, contractors of the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant in Bataan, $17 million for obtaining the construction contract, which, if not for Marcos' intervention would have been awarded to someone else.

The SC added the case can still be pursued because it has not yet prescribed.

"The Court is not persuaded to hold that the prescription period began to run from 1974, the time when the contracts for the construction were awarded to Burns and Roe and Westinghouse. Although the criminal cases were the offshoot of the sequestration case to recover ill-gotten wealth, the connivance and conspiracy among the public officials involved and the beneficiaries of the favors illegally extended rendered it similarly well-nigh impossible for the State, as the aggrieved party, to have known of the commission of the crimes charged prior to EDSA revolution in 1986," the SC said.

INTERAKSYON

Continue reading

“Z package” Android hands and Prostheses now part of Philippine govt health insurance program

Improving Health Insurance programs for the Phihealth Members, Android hands, Prosthesis would be covered now. Visit PhilHealth Office for more details

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently made prostheses (artificial body parts) available for those who have lost a limb.

This began as a concept in 2012 when the PhilHealth board was presented national data which showed that an estimated 30 percent of people with disabilities in the Philippines could return to work if provided with an assistive device like a prosthesis for a missing limb.

Prosthesis provision was selected as the first rehabilitation service to be covered by PhilHealth, and is called the "Z package" and among the first people to benefit was Alan Santos.

In April 2013, Santos, a 25-year-old construction worker hit a live electrical wire while working on a building site and sustained injuries that required amputation of his leg below the knee.

His contract did not provide health insurance or hospital benefits but with support from the local government, he was able to subscribe to PhilHealth and become the first recipient of a "Z package" prosthesis this September.

He was admitted to the Philippine General Hospital in Manila to be measured for a prosthesis and receive training on how to walk on his new leg. His employer has offered to re-hire him after his discharge.

For Santos, the "Z package" has offered a new "lease on life" and not only because it means he can return to work and support his family.

"I don't want my child to grow up seeing me without a leg, not being able to run and play with her, and eventually becoming dependent on her when I should be the one taking care of her," he said in a statement.

Interaksyon.com

Continue reading