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Email address: ecology_rcam@yahoo.com
“Care for God’s Creation is both our moral and spiritual duty”
(Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Bartholomew I)

February 13, 2007

HER EXCELLENCY
PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Republic of the Philippines

Attention: Secretary Arthur Yap
Department of Agriculture

Dear President Arroyo;

Maka kalikasang pagbati!

The government’s task is to ensure that the Filipino people do not have only enough food supply but safe, nutritious food and contamination free agricultural products.

Our government we believe is bound by the Untied Nations Environment Program and Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration that says:”In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by states according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.” Embedded within the Precautionary Principle is the idea that protection of human health and the environment is taken in advance, not after the potential damage has occurred.

The United States media recently reported that the GM variety, LLRice 601, developed by Bayer Crop Science which contains a gene that make its resistant tot eh herbicide Liberty has been found in rice-growing regions in southern United States such as Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The said US rice contaminated by a genetically modified variety were not approved for commercial release or for importation in the Philippines. Yet, the said rice is now in the market especially in the major grocery stores of the country.

WE are gravely concerned about this contamination especially because of the PL 480 Agreement recently signed by the Philippine governemtn with the US government, which includes the importation of 69,000 metric tons of rice from the US as a loan. How can you assure that the rice suppl;y be kept free from contamination by the long-grain variety from the United States?

As taxpayers, we demand that:

• The Philippine government impose a moratorium on the importation of rice from the United States especially under the PL 480 agreement.
• The Department of Agriculture require a mandatory testing of all imported rice coming from the United States to determine if these are genetically modified or not;
• The Department of Agriculture should urgently stop the propagation of GM products in our farms and market, instead aggressively promote and support the Philippine indigenous system of farming as a way of fulfilling the obligation of taking precautionary action.
• Certify as urgent bill the Mandatory Labeling of all imported, processed food and agricultural products entering and manufactured in our country.

We look forward to your immediate and favorable action on the issues and concerns raised above. Attached herewith are the more than 2,000 signatures of concerned citizens.

Sincerely yours,

(Signed)
REV. FR. BENITO B. TUAZON
Director



Cc; Senate
House of Representative