Negros Occidental’s ban on GMO products stays
BACOLOD CITY -- The ban on products with living Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) will continue in Negros Occidental as recommended by the adhoc team that was created by Governor Isidro Zayco to study the matter.
However, due to lack of equipment for its implementation, the Committee recommended a one-year extension to allow the entry of non-living GMO products in Negros Occidental.
Board Member Adolfo Mangao, chair of the Committee and Committee on Agriculture of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, said the members voted 9-5 for the stay of the Ordinance No. 007 series of 2007 that bans GMO in the province.
A report consolidated by the ad hoc was submitted to Zayco which the governor said he will still study and forward to the SP body for its finality.
Mangao said the nine members who voted for the implementation of the ordinance were silent on the extension given to the non-living organisms.
“The ban on living organisms will continue and will therefore cover corn like those seized at Bredo Port and other ports in the province,” Mangao said.
On the extension, he cited that there is a provision in the ordinance stating about transitory period extending on living organisms.
Mangao said that the committee opted for a win-win solution so as not to hurt the food security of the province.
“The lack in equipment of the province to detect non-living organisms is one of the many reasons that call for an extension of the provision,” Mangao said. “What the province has is only the equipment for the living organisms.”
Zayco also said that the local farmers will have the chance to plant more non-GMO corn in the province especially now that facilities such as for corn processing plant are already available in Sagay, with one to operate in Kabankalan City soon benefiting the corn farmers.
The provincial government has assured of post harvest facilities and equipment to these farmers. (PNA)