Farmers seek reversal of CA ruling on field testing, comm’l release of BT eggplant

MANILA, Philippines - Eleven farmers from Pangasinan and Bukidnon have petitioned the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse a decision of the Court of Appeals stopping the field testing and commercial release of genetically modified eggplant.

The farmers filed on March 5 a petition for review-in-intervention before the SC to reverse the CA decision, arguing the field trials conformed to strict regulations imposed by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)

The farmers said the appellate court ruling affects their livelihood and is “an impermissible encroachment of their constitutionally guaranteed right to property.”

Farmers who filed the motion for review-in-intervention are: Edgar C. Talasan, Eugene O. Halasan, David L. Casimero, George N. Matias, Laureano  Sanchez, Maximino N. Apelado, Danilo P. Doronio, Roberto L. Apelado, Marvin D. Matias, Emily S. Bitco, and Asuncion A. Desamito.

The farmers plant eggplant in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon and Sta. Maria, Pangasinan.

“Petitioner farmers look forward to its availability for commercial use as a way of alleviating their plight against the challenges of propagating eggplants in general, and the devastation caused by the EFSB (Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer),” the farmers said in the 57-page petition.

Genetically modified eggplant is resistant to EFSB infestation that leads to income loss.

“The Honorable Court of Appeals is effectively requiring Filipino farmers to merely stand back and do nothing while EFSB continues to damage their crops and eat up into their profits and livelihood,” the farmers said in their petition.

In September last year, the CA ruled with finality against the government-sanctioned field tests of genetically modified eggplant at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), citing the potential harm it could do to the environment and of it consumption to human health.

The appellate court rejected the motions for reconsideration filed by the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) of its ruling that field testing and commercial distribution of the biotechnology product should be stopped as there “is no full scientific certainty yet” on the effects of the genetically modified eggplant on human health.

The motion was filed by the EMB along with the Department of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation Inc., UP Mindanao Foundation Inc. and International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications.

The suit against the government, in turn, was filed by environment group Greenpeace, civic organization Magsasaka at Siyentipiko sa Pagpapaunlad ng Agrickultura, as well as other personalities such as lawmaker Teddy Casino, and former Puerto Prinsesa City mayor Edward Hagedoen and folk singer Noel Cabangon.