• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Opposition against the proposed amendment of the existing ordinance to allow the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Negros Occidental continues, as a group of organic farmers insist that organic farming is sustainable, contrary to the reason behind the proposed ordinance.
MASIPAG Provincial Consultative Board (PCB) Negros held a press conference yesterday to express their opposition to the ordinance, describing their cause as “protecting farmers, livelihood, and life.”
In their joint statement together with other peoples’ and farmers’ organizations, they expressed their intent to allow the province to be free from GMO.
“Negros Occidental is known to be the organic capital of the Philippines, a recognition that was founded a long time ago. However, the entrance of GMOs in the province will have a huge negative effect not just on soil but also on the culture and livelihood of our Negrosanon farmers,” it said.
During the public hearing on the GMO ordinance on September 10, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II said that one of the driving forces of the proposed ordinance was to provide the ultimate solution to food security in the province.
In response, MASIPAG PCB-Negros President Myrna Decendario stated that the proposed GMO ordinance will not provide a solution to food security, expressing that the solution is additional and stronger support for local farmers.
“It is not the GMO that can solve our problem; it is the hands of our farmers. That is why the government must invest more and must have solid support for local farmers,” she explained.
Masipag Advocacy Officer Elisio Ruzol Jr. added that based on the data they acquired, the entrance of the GMOs will not guarantee that Negrosanon farmers will attain high crop yields, citing the research of neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.
Furthermore, the farmers questioned the information that the proponents of the ordinance were pushing, as they stated that the ordinance was without scientific evidence.
The group remains to believe that GMOs will have a negative effect on the soil, animals, and health of the consumers.
“With the GMO seeds, soil will be poisoned as these crops grow and will be used as feed for livestock; chemicals will enter their bodies, and as people consume it, our health will be affected by chemicals,” Masipag Philippines Board Member Jojo Paglumotan added.*
