A bill seeking a ban on the entry of genetically modified organisms in the Philippines has been filed by party-list legislators, the House of Representatives said in a press release.

House Bill 2224 proposes to prohibit the entry, processing, field testing and release of crops and food products containing GMO into and within the country and imposing penalties for its violation.

The bill aims to keep the country's food and agriculture free from GMO at this time when there are still unresolved questions on its possible adverse effects on human health and environment, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño, one of the authors, said.

Casiño noted that genetic engineering in food crops is relatively new, and many cases have been discovered telling the public that GMO products could seriously harm human beings and the environment, the press release said.

He also warned that threats from genetically-engineered crops are fast rising in the Philippines , adding that there are supermarkets and grocery stores selling a number of food products found to contain GMOs.

Casiño said that Monsanto, a multinational corporation, has started its field testing of Bt corn in the country despite opposition from local government units and farmers in affected localities.

The country cannot afford to embrace the unproven technology of genetic engineering as it might pose serious environmental and health risks, he said, adding that it is better for the Philippines to follow other countries which acted to protect their citizens and environment from the threat of GMOs, the press release added.*

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