• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Over 50 international organic organizations have thrown their support behind the GMO-Free Negros Coalition, escalating the protest against a proposed ordinance that would lift the 18-year-old ban on genetically modified organisms in the province of Negros Occidental.
The international backing was announced yesterday by Edgardo Uychiat, a World Board member of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Organics International, from the 8th Organic Asia Congress in Vietnam.
The move comes as Negros Occidental’s legislative body considers repealing the existing ban, which has been in place since Provincial Ordinance No. 07, Series of 2007.
President of IFOAM Organics Asia Mathew John, voiced his concerns, stating that Negros Island has built a global reputation as a GMO-free area over the past two decades.
He warned that allowing GMOs would dilute the strength of organic agriculture and destroy the diversity, richness, and culture of the people and added that Negrosanons should share their concerns.
This global support comes as local protests against the proposed ordinance intensify, as critics say it threatens the province’s status as the ‘Organic Capital of the Philippines’ and the ‘Organic Food Bowl of Southeast Asia.’
The 51 organizations that have signified strong support in the fight against GMOs are from countries that include Italy, Indonesia, Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Germany, India, Mongolia, USA, Bhutan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Japan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Earlier this week, the campaign also gained an ally with Negros Occidental Third District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez saying that he is also against the lifting of the GMO ban in the province.
Noting that other countries, such as Mexico and Peru, have banned GMO for 10 years, Benitez questioned the attempt to lift the province’s 18-year-old ban.
“We have Terra Madre and Slow Food advocacy coming in Negros on November, people in the industry are looking forward to this. So the question is, why now and why the need to change?” said Benitez.
On the other hand, on Tuesday, livestock and poultry raisers in Negros Occidental expressed their support for the passage of the proposed Negros Occidental GMO Regulatory Ordinance.*
