The Department of Agriculture is targetting 5,000 hectares in the provinces of Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat as areas for a subsidy program involving the planting of the controversial Bacillus thuringiensis corn (Bt corn). The DA is apparently distancing itself from South Cotabato, known as an ”anti-BT corn hotbed.” The province has an ”anti-Bt corn policy.” [...] He said the DA will need P6 million for the subsidy program as the DA central office announced last week that farmers who will opt to plant the transgenic crop would be given P1,200 per hectare.