Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said it is unlikely that the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) will act on the proposed GMO Regulatory Ordinance before the Terra Madre Asia & Pacific (TMAP) 2025 event.
TMAP 2025 is set to take place in Bacolod City from November 19 to 23.
Lacson on Friday, Oct.17, said the P7.6 billion proposed 2026 budget for the Negros Occidental provincial government is the current priority of the SP.
Organic advocates have slammed the proposed ordinance, urging the provincial government to uphold its long-standing commitment to being GMO-free.
“Negros Occidental leads as the Organic Capital of the Philippines. Let it not be the first to abandon the commitment to protect the environment and produce food that is safe and sustainable for our people,” Andrea Si, an advocate for women and good governance, said on Saturday.
“A strong pushback from Negrenses is needed to convince our provincial government that we want to keep GMO crops out of Negros Occidental”, she said.*