Gov’t, stakeholders agree to extend GM crops consultations

The public consultations for the joint administrative order on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) had been extended by the government line agencies to address all the concerns of the stakeholders especially the small farmers and environment groups.

This has been agreed upon by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Departments of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Health, and Interior and Local Government to hammer out all the details that would be in accordance to the issues raised by the Supreme Court.

Held yesterday, the fifth and final public consultation at the DA made sure that additional suggestions and recommendations were included to further improve the draft document.

The joint administrative order will be based on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is an international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. It was adopted on 29 January, 2000 and entered into force on 11 September, 2003.

In line with the legal mandate, after the said public consultation, the joint circular will also be submitted to the Office of the Solicitor General for their final recommendations.

Consultations took place after the Supreme Court banned the importations, applications, testing and commercialization of plants and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology.

The SC earlier said DA order 08-2002 failed to meet the minimum requirements for safety under EO 514, which requires a more transparent, meaningful and participatory public consultation on the conduct of field trials beyond the posting and publication of notices, consultations with some residents and government officials, and submission of written assessment and no socio-economic consideration.

The issuance of the joint circular is targeted before the end of the month while publication is set within the next 15 days after issuance.

The approval of the joint circular also aims to prevent a disruption in the food supply chain especially for the feed milling industry and this coincides with the poultry, livestock and aqua breeders as well.

MNTC BEGINS 113-M NLEX HEAVY MAINTENANCE WORK – The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) starts its 2016 heavy maintenance program for NLEX worth 113 million. The project, which began in January and will end in June this year, focuses on road patching of approximately 120 square meters of some portions of NLEX from Valenzuela City to Sta. Ines in Pampanga. MNTC president and chief executive officer Rodrigo E. Franco said heavy maintenance program on NLEX is done annually to ensure continuous delivery of safe and smooth travel. ‘We regularly do the necessary repairs and maintenance of NLEX to provide motorists with the same high level of service,’ said Franco. Road patching is a process where the old surface is removed and the pavement gravel is pulverized by road reclaimer machinery. The pavement is watered and re-compacted before a surface seal – blend of asphalt concrete – is applied. Since road patching is done portion by portion, MNTC assures motorists that despite the ongoing maintenance work, traffic flow will remain light as it implements a traffic management plan which includes the closure of only one lane with a maximum length of 1.5 kilometers. The tollways company also installs road signs and warning devices at the repair site to further guide motorists. MNTC added that there will be no road repairs during weekends and holidays in anticipation of the high traffic volume. Patching works are being undertaken from Mondays to Thursdays, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Fridays, 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. MNTC is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MNTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Group.