Proposed GMO ordinance in Negros Occidental divides Negrenses
BACOLOD CITY—A team of officials from environmental and legal divisions in the Negros Occidental provincial government strongly pushed for the enactment of the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) regulatory ordinance now pending before the Provincial Board amid strong objections from church and nongovernment leaders here.
The provincial legal-scientific team maintained the measure would “safeguard food security, protect farmers, and embrace science-based innovation while upholding the province’s organic identity.”
“The provincial government of Negros Occidental affirms its commitment to ensuring that local agricultural policies remain science-based, aligned with national regulations, and responsive to the needs of our people,” said the statement released Thursday and signed by Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr., Project Development Officer III Justin Briones, and Environment Management Specialist I Diana Samson said.
On Tuesday, leaders from the Catholic Church and environment, organic farming, and civil society groups issued a joint declaration opposing the testing of GMOs in Negros Occidental as outlined in the proposed ordinance.
Coexistence not possible
“Negros Occidental must remain GMO-free. Its destiny lies in being a model for ecological food systems, not a testing ground for technologies that threaten our land, our health, and our future,” read the joint declaration that had over a dozen multisector signatories, including Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos.
According to the group, “GMOs violate the principles of organic agriculture” and “reduce biodiversity, disrupt ecosystems, and foster dependency on external inputs and corporations.”
They also rejected claims that GMOs can coexist with organic farming, stressing that the “risk of contamination threatens the very foundation of Negros’ organic sector.”
“Once GMOs enter the environment, coexistence is impossible, and organic certification is jeopardized. GMOs compromise food sovereignty. Seed ownership shifts from farmers to multinational companies, eroding community control over food systems,” it said.
They further warned: “Public health and ecological safety cannot be guaranteed. Independent studies continue to raise questions about the long-term impacts of GMOs on health and the environment.”
According to the group, “Negros has already chosen a different path” and “its GMO-free status is not only a legal framework but also a moral and cultural commitment to protect its people, lands, and future generations.”
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, meanwhile, encouraged those who are against the proposed ordinance to join a public hearing to be conducted by the Provincial Board on Tuesday, assuring these sectors “will be given a chance to speak and be heard.”
Compelling need
The provincial government’s legal-scientific team has maintained there was a “compelling need to amend the existing GMO ordinance of Negros Occidental to ensure consistency with the national policy framework on GMO regulation under Joint Department Circular No. 01, Series of 2021” issued by the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The proposed Negros Occidental GMO Regulatory Ordinance seeks to harmonize the province’s local framework with national policy, the team said: “Under this Circular, any introduction, use, or commercialization of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) remains strictly subject to the evaluation, approval, and permitting processes of the National Biosafety Committee and its relevant regulatory agencies.”
The team further stressed that the provincial government would want to align its policies with that of the national government, “to prevent inconsistencies, strengthen biosafety regulations, and uphold the rights of their people to safe, sustainable, and secure food sources.”
It also pointed out that coexistence between organic, conventional, and GM crops is already practiced in countries, such as those in the European Union, where strict monitoring and buffer zones are implemented.
“Organic certification systems recognize that unintentional presence of GMOs does not automatically invalidate organic status. With sound biosafety monitoring, Negros can protect its organic sector while also allowing technological progress,” it said.
While Negros Occidental is proud of its organic farming heritage, it also faces challenges, such as climate change, pest outbreaks, and food security threats. Biotechnology provides tools to help us overcome these issues, it added.
“A balanced approach allows us to honor our culture while embracing science,” the team said.
It added: “The proposed ordinance does not abandon the values of sustainability and cultural heritage. Rather, it strengthens our capacity to respond to modern agricultural challenges by aligning local law with national policy and scientific evidence.”
