In recent years, we started to create fire by rubbing stones together and theres a set of woods, we started to create

tools manually and with indigenous materials in our daily life activities. Just like an axe made of sharp stone and a piece

of wood, we started agricultural activities just like fishing for creating a long piece of stick with a sharp end to hit the

fish in the rivers, and even in planting we do it manually, it takes 3-6 months for the product fully grown and used for

food. As years passed, everything changes, everything evolved as what they have said the only constant thing in this

world is change. We humans faced problems in our day to day survival, we seek answers for which is instant, faster,

easier that could make us more comfortable.

In this modern era, we developed a lot of machines or tools that makes everything just like a snap. For creating

fire we have now matches, lighters which are more easier and faster, for the tools we have the machines to do it it just

takes a less man power, in agricultural production we have a lots of motors that could aide our farmers, and even the

seeds now are commercialized-that leads to a faster way to grow and we even had pesticides and fertilizers. And in

fishing theres a lot of machines that aides to catch more, example the lights that are used to attract fish at night are just

one of these. One of the biggest problem as we faced now is our survival and over population which leads to hunger and

shortage of food supply.

This means leads to the discovery of genetically modified organisms; these are living organisms whose ge-

netic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. This creates combinations of

plant, animal, bacteria, and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods (). Most

of them are engineered made for the application of herbicide or insecticide. Due to the emerging technology, as human as

we are we want answers to our problems, either for survival or for living. With GMO's and the presence of our technolo-

gy nowadays, this is used now to develop other traits in plants; such as a resistance to a browning apple and create new

organisms using synthetic biology. Today we can incorporate new genes from one species into a completely unrelated

species through genetic engineering, optimizing agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable phar-

maceutical substances. Crop plants, farm animals, and soil bacteria are some of the more prominent examples of organ-

isms that have been subject to genetic engineering. Despite of the biotech industry yet there is still no proof that any of
these called GMO's are on the market, that these GMO’s has consumer benefit and the safety of it is still unknown. But

still there are citizens who chose to opt out these GMO's experiment.

In regards with the medical field, According to Armstrong, B. "genetic engineering could help eliminate hundreds

of diseases. It could eliminate many forms of pain and anxiety. It could increase intelligence and longevity. It could

change the scale of human happiness and productivity by many orders of magnitude. There are only a handful of areas of

research in the world with this much potential (p.8, 2019)". Mr. Armstrong cited proof about the existence of this genetic

engineering such as the babies that are born using in vitro fertilization. According to him last 2018 He Jiankui created the

first genetically modified baby in China and last year 2019 he also cited the clinical trials for gene therapies had

approved. It agrees with Hawking, S. "with the genetic engineering, we will be able to increase the complexity of our

DNA, and Improve the human race . But it will slow the process, because one will have to wait about 18 years to see the

effect of changes to the genetic code" (). How ever as what Armstrong cited still editing human DNA was not allowed

even though theres a lot of research's that being conducted. Because we are afraid of its effect but every discovery starts

from small until it was accepted. Just like medicines to aid our pain, then surgeries to prolong life. Genetic engineering

may help other people to transfer healthy gene to other person that needed it the most provided it crossed a thorough

examinations.Moreover it need evidence that coincides with the American National Academy of Sciences and National

Academy of Medicine also gave qualified support to human genome editing in 2017 “once answers have been found to

safety and efficiency problems...but only for serious conditions under stringent oversight."

In addition GMO product all over the sixty four countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of

the other countries in the European Union, requires these GMO foods to be labeled. While Canada does that require this

labeling a d on the other hand United states are not currently labeled. However, the National Bioengineered Food

Disclosure Standard (NBFDS) was published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2018 which is called Dark Act,

this act start the mandatory GMO labeling it is limited to some but not all products that contained GMOs will be labeled

this 2022.
 Due to lack of evidence, that the products that contains GMOs are safe, we need to be aware on what products

that contains GMOs; as what our elders said prevention is better than cure. The Non-GMO Project also considers live-

stock, apiculture, and aquaculture products at high risk because genetically engineered ingredients are common in animal

feed. This impacts animal products such as: eggs, milk, meat, honey, and seafood. Processed inputs, including those from

synthetic biology: GMOs also sneak into food in the form of processed crop derivatives and inputs derived from other

forms of genetic engineering, such as synthetic biology. Some examples include: hydrolyzed vegetable protein corn

syrup, molasses, sucrose, textured vegetable protein, flavorings, vitamins yeast products, microbes & enzymes, flavors,

oils & fats, proteins, and sweeteners.

In every story there are always two sides of the coin, the head and the tail. As well in every development there are

always Pros and Cons.

Although cannot be clearly identified as pros hence there are some of the Pros as follows:

1. Tackling and defeating disease.

There so many deadly and difficult diseases to cure, but be be possibly wiped out by the help of this genetic engineering.

2. Getting Rid of all Illness in Young and Unborn Children.

Doctors even in the womb can determine, if the baby has a down syndrome, and the inheritance of a disease that the

child may be the carrier but with the help of genetic engineering it can cure diseases and illness of unborn children.

3. Potential to live longer.

With genetic engineering, on the other hand, we could reverse some of the most basic reasons for the body’s natural de-

cline on a cellular level, drastically improving both the span of our lives and the quality of life later on. It could also help

humans adapt to the growing problems of, for instance, global warming in the world.

If the places we live in become either a lot hotter or colder, we are going to need to adapt, but evolution takes many thou-

sands of years, so genetic engineering can help us adapt quicker and better ().

4. Produce new foods.

With genetic engineering it helps us yo create a new food design that cold adopt this climate change, foods that have a

higher resistance like in a very hot hot or very cold weather provided that has all the nutrients needed.
5. Pharmaceutical Development

Genetic engineering can be used to improve the drugs available on the marketplace by making them more effective and

safer.

6. Agriculture

Saving the seeds from the best looking plants to replant the following year has been a method of manual genetic selec-

tion for many years.

7. Risk to the local water supply are reduced.

Because farmers and growers do not need to apply as many pesticides or herbicides to their croplands due to genetic en-

gineering, fewer applications to the soil need to occur. This protects the local watershed and reduces the risk of an ad-

verse event occurring without risking the yield and profitability that is needed.

8. Specific traits can be developed.

Plants and animals can have specific traits developed through genetic engineering that can make them more attractive to

use or consumption.

Cons of Genetic Engineering

1. Is it right?

Because we all do believe everything has end if this genetic engineering prolongs our life it could lead to ver population.

2. May lead to genetic defects.

We need to ensure about the safety if the sudden change if cellular level. Even scientists has no idea how would human

body would reacts on it.

 Bio Safety of the Philippines

“Biosafety” is a condition in which the probability of harm, injury and damage resulting from the intentional and

unintentional introduction and/or use of a regulated article is within acceptable and manageable levels.

"Genetically modified organisms” or GMO refers to any living organism that possesses a novel combination of ge-

netic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology. GMO also refers to living modified organism as de-

fined by the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

“Modern biotechnology” means the application of (a) in vitro nucleic acid techniques, including recombinant de-

oxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles; or (b) fusion of cells beyond the

taxonomic family, that overcome natural, physiological reproductive or recombination barriers and that are not tech-

niques used in traditional breeding or selection.

“Recombinant DNA” is a DNA molecule into which a foreign DNA has been inserted.

"Risk assessment” refers to the procedure that identifies, evaluates and predicts the occurrence of possible hazards

to human and animal health and the environment and designs mitigating measures to avert or minimize these hazards.

“Transformation event” means one instance of entry, stable integration and expression of an introduced gene into a

cell which then develops into a functional organism expressing the introduced gene.

“Transgenic” means an organism whose cells, including the germ line cells, contain foreign DNA.

Definitions obtained from: Philippine Biosafety Guidelines Series 1 and 3, EO 514 and the Cartagena Protocol.
 The NCBP—Structure, Mandates and Procedures

Organizational Structure

The NCBP is an interdepartmental, multi-disciplinary, technical committee that consists of the Department of Agri-

culture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH) and the De-

partment of Science and Technology

The DOST Undersecretary for R & D serves as Chair of the NCBP and the members include the ex-officio mem-

bers who are representatives of DA, DENR, and DOH who are designated by their respective Secretaries, four scientists

with specialization in the biological sciences, environmental sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences, and two

community representatives. The DOST’s Office of the Undersecretary for R & D serves as the Secretariat of the NCBP

with the member departments providing additional staff support as the need arises.

The Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) are required to be established in institutions involved in genetic

engineering and/or hazardous biological work and are tasked to evaluate and monitor the biosafety aspects of their bio-

logical researches. The IBC shall be composed of at least five members— at least three scientists with expertise in

biotechnology or related fields and have the capacity to assess and monitor properly any work involving GMOs and po-

tentially harmful and exotic species (PHES) and two community representatives who are not affiliated with the institu-
tion and shall represent the interest of the surrounding community with respect to health and protection of the environ-

ment as stated in the Philippine Biosafety Guidelines (NCBP 1991). The list of nominees for IBC membership of an in-

stitution has to be approved by the NCBP. Minimum requirement is the submission of the curriculum vitae of the nomi-

nees for review by the NCBP.

The NCBP creates a Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) when needed to conduct a scientific review

or evaluation of biosafety proposals independent of the NCBP. Members of the STRP are experts in fields relevant to the

proposal being evaluated.

Mandates

The NCBP was mandated by EO 430 (1990) to be the lead national body to:

(1) identify and evaluate potential hazards involved in initiating genetic engineering experiments or the introduction of

new species and genetically modified organisms,

and recommend measures to minimize risks;

(2) formulate, review or amend national policies and guidelines on biosafety, such as

the safe conduct of work on genetic engineering, pests and their genetic materials, for the protection of public health, en-

vironment, and personnel, and supervise the implementation thereof;

(3) formulate, review or amend national policies and guidelines in risk assessment of work in biotechnology and super-

vise the implementation thereof;

(4) develop working arrangement with government quarantine services and institutions in the evaluation, monitoring, and

review of projects vis-à-vis adherence to national policies and guidelines on biosafety;

(5) assist in the development of technical expertise, facilities and other resources for quarantine services and risk assess-

ments;

(6) recommend the development and promotion of research programs to establish risk assessment protocols and assess-

ment of long-term environmental effects of biological research covered by these guidelines;

(7) hold public deliberations on proposed national policies, guidelines and other biosafety issues;

(8) provide assistance in the formulation, amendment of pertinent laws, rules and regulations; and
(9) call upon the assistance of any government agency, department, office, bureau including government-owned and/or

controlled corporations.

Conclusion

Today I can say everything can be reached by our fingertips, we can gather many resources as we could. This ge-

netic engineering has a lot of potentials. Yes it crucial, and may be costly but lets wake up we need yo cope with it. Of-

course we need to observe all precautionary measures, and a thorough examinations before to be applied in humans be-

cause we the humans are also volatile. We have discussed here the Pros and cons and we can conclude somehow it could

be effective soon but we are just afraid how to start, we are afraid to face consequences especially applying this genetic

engineering in us as humans. But a wise man always seek for answer, but what are professor said science has no end

every answer leads to another question. But for us at least we have addressed a certain problem but it is always required

to examine each step.

The use of genetically modified organisms is important in order to meet increasing demands and improve existing

conditions prevalent in our environment. Monitoring and detection methods are vital for risk assessment and manage-

ment to control the negative environmental and health impacts. The international biosafety regulatory frameworks are

sufficiently stringent in order to protect against genuine ascertainable risks, as well as the ability of decision makers to

discern the appropriateness of data necessary to adequately conduct a risk assessment, which all have considerable con-

sequences. Consideration of social, economic, and ethical issues needs to be taken care of. Application of the precaution-

ary approach provides avenues for future development and use of genetic engineering.