ATTY. BLO UMPAR ADIONG
Director
Bureau of Plant Industry
Malate, Manila

Dear Director Adiong:

"We, the Philippine Society of Animal Nutritionists (PHILSAN), an association of professional animal nutritionists practicing in the country, aims at improving livestock and poultry feeding and production, pass this resolution for we believe coincides with our vision to develop the livestock, poultry, and aqua industries that are profitable for our farmers and whose products are safe for human consumption."

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, biotechnology offers developing countries like the Philippines a potent tool for addressing food security and environmental concerns in the face of declining farm productivity, decreasing agricultural area, deteriorating land, galloping population growth, and rising rural poverty;

WHEREAS, countries such as the United States, Canada, Argentina, China, South Africa, Mexico, India and Uruguay have adopted biotechnology as means of increasing their agricultural productivity;

WHEREAS, corn and soybean are the two most essential inputs to feed both livestock and poultry;

WHEREAS, due to limited local supply of these two main feed ingredients, a significant amount of corn and soybean, among other crops, are being imported in the country;

WHEREAS, due to the infestation caused by insects such as the Asian Corn Borer, and limited post-harvest facilities, poor grain quality is manifested in crops being used for feeds, thus affects the quality of our livestock and poultry;

WHEREAS, the application of biotechnology provides opportunities and options to small farmers as well as food and feed industries to boost product yield and improve quality by reducing the use of insecticides in farms;

WHEREAS, Section 3 of Republic Act 8435 or the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 provide for the modernization of the agricultural sectors by transforming these sectors from a resource-based to a technology-based industry;

WHEREAS, the Philippine government thru the Office of the President by way of a policy statement dated 16 July 2001, recognized the potential of biotechnology as one of several means to achieve and sustain food security;

WHEREAS, the country has appropriate regulatory protocols to address the bio-safety and health aspects of biotechnology products, including genetically modified organisms, by way of the Department Of Agriculture Administrative Order No 8, Series of 2002 or the Rules and Regulations for the Importation and Release into the Environment of Plants and Plant Products Derived From the Use of Modern Biotechnology.

WHEREAS, with a regulatory system in place, this will align the Philippines with countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Argentina, among others, in promoting the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Philippine Society of Animal Nutritionists (PHILSAN), supports the adoption of biotechnology as a national and regional strategy for improving agricultural productivity and attaining global competitiveness;

RESOLVED, further, that the Philippine Society of Animal Nutritionists (PHILSAN) urges President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to support the commercialization and importation of agricultural products derived from this technology to ensure the country's food sufficiency program and increased agricultural productivity; and

RESOLVED, further, that the Philippines must sustain its human resource, institution development programs, and strengthen biotechnology research, development and product commercialization to guarantee product safety, ensure environmental protection, and competitiveness of the biotechnology sector in free-trade scenario of the world economy.

SIGNED:

ARNEL N. DEL BARRIO
President, PHILSAN, 2002-2003