Dr. Eufemio Rasco expressed concern about the impact of a ruling by the Court of Appeals that halts the commercial production of genetically modified golden rice and Bt eggplant.
Rasco, president of the Coalition for Agriculture Modernization of the Philippines, warned on Thursday, April 25, that farmers and consumers will suffer from the decision of the Court of Appeals.
He explained that farmers will have to rely on 'harmful, synthetic pesticides' that could cause illness.
"46 percent ng ating mga magsaska ay nag-report na sila ay nagkasakit sapagkat patuloy sila na gumagamit ng synthetic pesticide dahil wala silang mapagpipilian na control measure dito sa insect na kumakain ng kanilang halaman," Rasco said during DZRH's Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
"Sa mga consumer naman meron din masamang epekto sapagkat na-detect ng ating mga mananaliksik na 20 percent ng mga talong nakikita sa mga palengke ay may pesticide residue," he added.
In a 143-page decision dated April 17, the Court of Appeals ordered the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PRRI) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) to cease and desist from conducting any activities related to golden rice and Bt eggplant.
The court also revoked the biosafety permits for commercial propagation of golden rice and Bt eggplant.
The decision stemmed from a petition for writ of kalikasan filed by several groups including the Magsasaka At Siyentipiko para sa Pag-Unlad Agrikultura (MASIPAG) and Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
