Hog raisers tag GMO ordinance anti-consumers
BACOLOD CITY -- The Negros Occidental Hog Raisers Association MPC, Inc. have asked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through Vice Governor Emilio Yulo, III for its consideration and asked for the immediate amendment or revision of the Provincial Ordinance No. 007, Series of 2007.
Mr. Albert Lim, President of the Negros Occidental Hog Raisers Association, MPC, Inc. submitted its position paper last May 13, 2008 and stated that the Provincial Ordinance is anti-developmental and goes contrary to national thrusts and programs for agricultural development and food security.
On June 18, 2001, President Arroyo issued a policy on modern biotechnology which states,” We shall promote the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products as one of several means to achieve and sustain food security, equitable access to health services, sustainable and safe environment and industry development.”
They said that without intending to do so, the Provincial Ordinance is anti-Negrense, anti-Negros consumer, anti-Negros farmers and anti-Negros industry. It violates the citizen’s basic right for an informed free choice as their option to use safe products of modern biotechnology are curtailed.
“Likewise, our farmers are deprived of the good opportunities afforded by morning agricultural biotechnology as witnessed by other Filipino farmers who have already planted 400,000 hectares of GM corn in 2008 and benefitted from increased yields, profits and income. Our livestock, poultry and other upstream industries are unfairly penalized when they are denied access from the biotech corn which are found to be cleaner and have less borer damage, healthier due to its less mycotoxin contents, and more readily available in the market,” they said.
They added that the implementation of the Ordinance cannot come at a most deplorable time when our beloved Province would like to develop its livestock and poultry industry as safety net to the Philippine full compliance of its AFTA commitments particularly in sugar. It is thus ironical that our dear Sangguniang Panlalawigan had the best of interests when the Ordinance was passed but the result of its implementation would lead to the death of many of our fledging industries and stagnation of our local economy.
The basic premise of the Provincial Ordinance is not founded on sound scientific facts. Modern biotechnology is safe. This has been attested by international regulatory institutions, standard setting bodies and scientific communities.
The Ordinance is also not based on socio-economic facts. Its full implementation is not only overly cumbersome but is actually not practical and realistic.