Scientists are developing a genetically-modified (GM) abaca to come up with a variant that is resistant to major viral diseases threatening the country's fiber industry. The project aims to come up with the GM-abaca that is resistant to bunchy-top, mosaic and bract mosaic viruses by 2011, a report from the Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center said Monday. A P20-million budget has been proposed to finance the project. This will be led by the Fiber Industry Development Authority and the Biotechnology Program Implementation Unit of the Department of Agriculture.