Current field testing and regulatory compliance experiments related to safety for Golden Rice regulatory dossiers are planned for submission in 2013 to Philippine authorities. Given that the Golden Rice trait is present in inbred lines, the Golden Rice varieties can be saved for replanting and will have a similar cost as current conventional varieties. The expected commercial approval of biotech Golden Rice in the Philippines in 2013 will be of significance to China, Vietnam and Bangladesh which are evaluating the product with a view to deployment.

The holding of the 1st Philippine International BioEnergy Conference at the Manila Hotel comes on the heels of the $1.78 billion investment of China in Nigeria to produce bioethanol using sweet sorghum as feedstock. [...] Experts have said that for sugarcane to be a major feedstock for ethanol, the best option is to use genetically-modified sugarcane like the Honeywell strain developed by the University of Queensland in Australia.

The number of genetically-modified crops with stacked traits will increase in time as more farmers opt for them, beginning with corn. This prediction was made by Dr. Clarito Barron, director of the Bureau of Plant Industry, after noting that 70 percent of farmers using GM corn are propagating crops with double traits and the use of three or four stacked traits may not be far off. Barron confirmed that BPI reviewed and approved 67 transformation events, eight of which have applied for propagation.

Lawmakers have filed a measure that requires the mandatory labeling of food and food products containing genetically modified organisms in the country in order to safeguard the rights and welfare of Filipino consumers, a press release from Congress said. The measure, to be known as the “Genetically-Modified Food Labeling Act,” covers all food and food products domestically sold, whether manufactured locally or imported, and which contain genetically-modified organisms.

The Philippines will be the launch pad for the marketing of Golden Rice by 2013. The launch is seen to boost global food security and reduce malnutrition. The Philippines was the first to commercialize the genetically modified Bacillus thuringiensis corn in Asia in 2002. [...] Higher yield is expected compared to conventional crops. The new variety is targeted at resisting tungro and bacterial blight, the two diseases found to be most destructive to palay plants.

Philippine Rice Research Institute is developing a new variety of "Golden Rice," a genetically modified, beta-carotene-rich grain that helps combat Vitamin A deficiency. [...] The new variety is targeted at resisting tungro and bacterial blight, the two diseases found to be the most destructive to palay plants.

Improved disease resistance will help raise such variety's chance for survival and production.

SMALL organic farmers in Davao City hailed Mayor Sara Duterte’s stance in opposing the second round of Bt talong field testing in Davao City. Tranquilina Alibango of Kababaihang Nagtataglay ng Bihirang Lakas (KNBL), a network of women farmers in the city’s third congressional district, welcomed the city mayor’s move, saying it showed her commitment towards protecting the welfare of small organic farmers.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has acknowledged biotechnology as key to addressing critical environmental issues facing the country, particularly in overcoming challenges in global warming like droughts, food security, and mitigation of impacts from natural disasters. [...] “The DENR will continue to support the implementation of EO 514 as it is compliant to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety under the Convention on Biological Diversity that addresses safe transfer, handling and use of GMOs,” Paje said. He also said that the DENR will be taking the lead in evaluating and monitoring GMOs intended for bioremediation and improvement of forest and wildlife genetic resources.

On November 23 there will be a public forum on human care and biotechnology coordinated by the Department of Health. It will take up the issue on how to possibly address dengue by using genetically modified mosquitoes. [...] in the afternoon of the 25th a round table discussion sponsored by the DA in cooperation with the Biotech Coalition of the Philippines will tackle the use of genetically modified fruit flies.

The Department of Agriculture Region 6 (DA 6) said Western Visayas is doing well in the farmer’s practice of organic agriculture, compared to other regions in the country. DA 6 Dir. Larry Nacionales said Negros Occidental has already adopted organic agriculture way back in 2007 through its Provincial Ordinance 007 that prohibits the entry of Genetically Modified Organisms in the province.