Bacolod: Protests from organic agriculture advocates continue against the entry of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Negros Occidental as the provincial board on Tuesday held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance that seeks to reverse the province's 18-year-old GMO ban.
According to Philippines News Agency, the public hearing, presided over by 3rd District Board Member Andrew Montelibano, chairperson of the committees on agriculture and environment, was joined by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, who represented the provincial government in pushing for the passage of the ordinance regulating the entry of GMOs in Negros Occidental, which has already passed the first and second readings during the session on August 26.
Montelibano stated that the initiative is meant for the welfare of the people of Negros Occidental, not specifically for or against the organic agriculture community. He emphasized that it is important to find feasible solutions for everyone. He has given the opposing groups a week to present their suggestions.
Ordinance No. 07, which was passed in 2007, prohibits the entry and trade of GMO plants and animals in Negros Occidental. Joshua Villalobos, secretary general of the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment, pointed out that the public hearing occurred late, as the ordinance had already passed the second reading. He expressed concerns about the difficulties in enforcing a new ordinance regulating GMO entry.
The province's joint legal-scientific team issued a statement affirming the provincial government's commitment to ensuring agricultural policies are science-based and aligned with national regulations. They emphasized the need to amend the existing GMO ordinance to maintain consistency with national policy frameworks. The proposed ordinance aims to harmonize local frameworks with national policy and scientific evidence while upholding sustainability and cultural heritage.
The GMO-Free Negros Coalition responded by stressing the importance of defending the GMO ban to protect the island's agricultural future and uphold its identity as a leader in agroecology and organic farming. They warned against conceding governance to corporate agribusiness and sacrificing food sovereignty and ecological justice.
