PNoy asked to release ‘golden rice’ to address vitamin A deficiency*
CALASIAO—Former Fifth District Rep. Mark Cojuangco urges government leaders concerned with agriculture like the Abono partylist to call on President Aquino for the release of “golden rice” in the Department of Agriculture to address Vitamin A deficiency among Filipino rice consumers.
Cojuangco made the appeal Tuesday during the launching of supplementary feeding program which he, the Abono partylist, Mayor Mark Macanlalay of this town jointly sponsored for some 20,000 school children here to mark the first year anniversary of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura and in celebration of the World Food Day.
Cojuangco said the release of this golden rice is being blocked by Greenpeace, an environmentalist group.
He said the technology for the golden rice has been with the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños for five years now.
“That has been ready for release and should have helped stop Vitamin A deficiency among Filipino rice eaters but it was put on hold because of the opposition of Greenpeace,” he said.
IRRI’s website said golden rice is a new type of rice that contains beta carotene, a source of vitamin A. Golden rice is being developed as a potential new food-based approach to improve vitamin A status.
Cojuangco said the technology for golden rice was bought by Bill and Melinda Gates so that its patent would no longer be exploited for financial gain by rich companies and instead benefit poor countries.
He said the grains of this golden rice is yellowish because it contains beta carotene which when consumed becomes vitamin A. He said vitamin A deficiency when not addressed leads to life-threatening diseases when a person ages.
He said oppositors to golden rice use are unmindful about this problem prevailing in poor countries.
“They are anti-development,” he added.
He said agricultural leaders must put their acts together to fight for its release.
Meanwhile, Cojuangco lauded Abono for its concern in uplifting the plight of the pupils, adding that this town was recently flooded so it was chosen as beneficiary of the project.
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Former Fifth District Rep. Mark Cojuangco, Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay and Abono partylist founding chairman, Engr. Rosendo So, join pupils of Calasiao Central School during the supplementary feeding program last Tuesday.
Teachers of the school manifested their gratitude to the sponsors of the supplementary feeding with a song especially composed for them during the program.
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