Stem cell treatments’ safety questioned

One of the most controversial medical procedures is the use of stem cells in treating all kinds of ailments. Stem cell treatments are still illegal in the US, where the science is legally accepted only up to the research stage.

Stem cell treatments are the rage among Filipinos who can afford the reported minimum P1 million required to receive injections of stem cells for everything from cancer to rejuvenation.

Taking advantage of the lack of specific legal directives, many local and foreign doctors have offered stem cell injections in varied settings that range from five-star hotels to mountain spas.

Scandals in the past few days have focused attention on this medical procedure, with the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation being called in to probe reports that it has been responsible for the death of at least three legislators and the worsening condition of the head of the Dangerous Drugs Board.

GM FOOD SAFE - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assured the public that genetically modified food produced through modern biotechnology are safe.

FDA acting director Kenneth Hartigan-Go noted that "all food derived from genetically modified (GM) crops in the market have met international food standards and are as safe as and as nutritious as the food derived from conventional crops for direct use as food, feeds and for processing."

He stressed that all GM food products derived from modern biotechnology that are currently on the market have passed food safety assessment based on the UN FAO/WHO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization) CODEX Alimentarius Risk Analysis of Food Derived form Modern Biotechnology and Guidelines for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants.

In 2012, some 17.3 million farmers in 28 countries planted GM crops in 170.3 million hectares of farmland, which is six percent or 10.3 million hectares more than in 2011.

ALL RENEWABLE POWER PLANTS BY 2023 - The Philippines aims to shift its current electricity system to 100 percent renewable energy within a decade, according to Worldwatch Institute's Climate and Energy Director, Alexander Ochs, who had met with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and other Philippine officials.

According to a Worldwatch press release, Climate Change Commissioner and former Senator Heherson Alvarez invited Ochs to present Worldwatch's suggested methodology for a Sustainable Energy Roadmap, which takes an integrated approach to examining the technical, socioeconomic, financial and policy changes necessary for transitioning to a an energy system entirely based on energy efficiency, intelligent grid solutions and renewable supply.

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Stem cell treatments’ safety questioned