MANILA, Philippines--The non-government organization Rice Watch and Action Network (R1) on Thursday criticized legislators who passed the Corporate Farming bill in the House of Representatives the night before and urged the Senate to block the measure.

R1 said in a statement that corporate farming could give full and extensive control to owners of private firms, "more likely mega-corporations," not only over the farms but over the whole chain of functions involved in the rice and corn industry.

The organization said this threatens farmers? livelihood and the environment due to potential land conversion and massive chemical farming.

"We hope that the Senators will not follow the apparent rush of the House of Representatives to pass anti-people laws and inadequately consulting the farmers and civil society groups," R1 leader Jessica Reyes-Cantos said.

R1 said its position is backed by Rep. Erin Tañada of the 4th district of Quezon, who voted against the bill on grounds that the government was reneging on its responsibility to support the marginalized sectors of rice farmers and develop the local rice industry.

"This is a recycled strategy. The Corporate Farming Program of the Marcos era failed. What difference does the proposed Corporate Farming Program now have to ensure that it will not repeat history? There is nothing new," R1 quoted Rep. Tañada as saying.