Prov’l Gov’t Gets Support on GMO Regulatory Ordinance Push

The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental has received copies of Manifestos of Support/Position Papers regarding the proposed Negros Occidental GMO Regulatory Ordinance from the following local stakeholders and farmers directly involved in the province’s food security programs.

These came from the Caridad I Agri Cooperative – a member of the Alliance of Hog Raisers Association of Negros Occidental (AHRANO), and the Sumbingco Hog Raisers Association (SUHORA) – also affiliated with the Alliance of Hog Raisers Association of Negros Occidental (AHRANO), a report on the website of the province said.
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On September, environmental groups held a rally infront of the Provincial Capitol to hinder political support for the entry of the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the province.

Tim Managuit, spokesperson for the silent rally from the Green Alert Network (GAN) and the Group of Environmental Socialists, Inc. (GOES), claimed that GMO “destroys the province’s agricultural heritage, biodiversity, and put to risks the livelihoods of local farmers. It pushes for poverty to the focal centers of agricultural life.”

He added, the movement aims to challenge the local government to create other means, leaning towards sustainability and traditional farming practices.

He said the entry of GMOs in the province has been carefully followed by these groups and has claimed violation to “The Safeguard Against Living Genetically Modified Organisms” or otherwise known as the Provincial Ordinance No. 07, Series of 2007.

The group said that Negros Occidental’s abundant biodiversity has been protected for 18 years with the ordinance, safeguarding the livelihood of farmers and upholding its vision as the “Organic Food Island in Asia.”

Christian Lhyle Nulada, Coordinator Head for Green Alert Network, Inc., meanwhile said his utmost concern for how the youth can lead their consumption for basic food safety and quality.

He said that “decisions to support the entry of GMOs should be made with precaution and transparency with broad stakeholder participation as mentioned from the National Biosafety Framework (Executive Order 514).”

He added that the environmental groups have also forwarded their position paper to thevlocal government to oppose on the entry of GMOs and proposed a “GMO Ordinance of the Province of Negros Occidental.”

GAN founder and Global Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) expert Rusty Biñas, meanwhile said the best practice to do is to abort the rise of GMO use in the province and reject the plans of further entry.*