RP, U.S. promoting biotech

RP, U.S. promoting biotech

MANILA (AFP): The Philippines and the United States are jointly undertaking a five-year program aimed at enhancing biotech research here, a presidential palace statement said Sunday.

Under the US$7-million, five-year program both parties would look into boosting agricultural productivity through field research on biotechnology, the statement said.

"Absolutely, I think the Philippines will be one of the leaders in biotech in the Asian region," the statement quoted John Alexander, an expert in the field from the US Department of Agriculture, as saying.

Environmental activists have been pressing the government into rethinking its agenda of increasing crop production by introducing genetically modified crops after officials allowed the "field testing" of gene-altered corn last year.

Proposed legislation that would ban entry of imported commodities with genetically modified ingredients as well as implementing control mechanisms on their local production have been pending in Congress.