The Negros Occidental provincial government on Tuesday, Sept. 16, received several manifestos of support for a proposed Negros Occidental GMO Regulatory Ordinance from livestock and poultry industry groups seeking relief from high feed costs.
Among those who signed the manifestos were the Negros Occidental Layers Association (NOLA), Negros Occidental Hog Raisers Association (NOHRA), Negros Occidental Swine Inseminators (NOSI), Association of Broiler Integrators of Negros Occidental (ABINO), and diversified farmer Joval V. Gargantiel.
The groups said allowing regulated GMO corn production in the province will help lower production costs, provide livelihood opportunities to corn farmers, and strengthen food security.
“Corn makes up about 70 percent of animal feeds. With the current ban, we are forced to import supplies at much higher costs, limiting the growth of our industry,” the manifesto said.
It added the proposed ordinance will help stabilize feed supply and make products more affordable.
But opposition groups maintain that the number of organizations supporting the proposal remain far fewer than those against it.
Randy Rojo of the Group of Environmental Socialists Inc. said 32 organizations have already signed to oppose the measure.
Rusty Biñas, co-founder of Green Alert Negros, also issued an appeal to the Negros Occidental board members to reject the proposed law.
“This is not a matter to be taken lightly; it will directly impact the health of our people, the safety of our environment, and the future of our small farmers,” Biñas said.
He called for comprehensive health, environmental, and socio-economic risk assessments before any vote is cast, warning that Negros’ identity as the “Organic Agriculture Capital of the Philippines” could be permanently compromised.
Joshua Villalobos, secretary general of the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE), said the release of position papers makes clear whose interests are being amplified.
“It showed that the province is willing to sacrifice the organic future of Negros for the benefit and profit of a few. The position papers did not provide any scientific or economic imperative for the entire province but only for the businesses of the signatories,” he said.
Villalobos added that they still hope the Provincial Board will conduct hearings with experts to guide decisions, “and not rely only on propagandistic statements.”
Negros Occidental passed a landmark ordinance in 2007 banning the entry, planting, growing, selling, and trading of genetically modified organisms.
The proposed measure seeks to reverse that ban by aligning provincial policy with national regulations, allowing the regulated planting of GMO corn for animal feed purposes.
On Sept. 15, Green Alert Negros staged a protest at the Provincial Capitol grounds, joined by other local environmental groups.
Protest spokesperson Tim Managuit said GMO crops threaten the province’s agricultural heritage, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of small farmers.
“We call on the government to uphold sustainable, traditional farming practices,” he said.*
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