82 Negrosanon groups oppose GMO ordinance amendment

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — A total of 82 organizations and companies belonging to a coalition fighting the entry of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into Negros Occidental delivered four separate position papers to the Provincial Capitol on Tuesday.

The documents challenged a proposed ordinance that would regulate the use of GMOs in the province’s agriculture, said a press statement furnished to media on Wednesday.

First to submit was the GMO-Free Negros Coalition, whose multistakeholder position paper was signed by the leaders of 39 companies and organizations.

Three groups from within the coalition followed suit.

These are the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO), signed by its president, Roberto “Bob” Magalona, and 39 other members; First Farmers Holding Corporation and First Farmers Planters Association, with almost 600 planters as members, which made a joint statement signed by their respective presidents, Rafael Lizares Jr. and Nicolas Ledesma Jr.; and the Negrosanon Youth, led by the Rise for Roots Movement, signed by 50 student leaders and student journalists.

Four representatives from the groups submitted their respective position papers to the Sanggunian around 1:30 p.m., just ahead of the 2 p.m. regular session.

They also distributed copies to key offices within the Provincial Capitol.

The GMO-Free Negros Coalition — an association of individuals and organizations representing diverse sectors such as farmers, civil society, faith-based groups, academics, and the private sector — submitted a position paper titled “Preserving Negros Occidental’s Legacy as the ‘Organic Capital of the Philippines.’”

Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos signed the cover letter of the position paper.

The letter was addressed to Board Member Andrew Montelibano, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (SP) Committees on Agriculture and the Environment, and copies were also provided to Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso and all other members of the Sanggunian.

“Negros Occidental holds a unique and pioneering place in the Philippines as the country’s Organic Capital. These safeguards, embodied in the 2007 Safeguard Against Living GMOs Ordinance and the 2011 Organic Agriculture Ordinance, are critical not only for protecting the environment and farmers’ livelihoods, but also for sustaining the province’s global reputation in the organic movement,” the coalition said.

Their 22-page position paper argued against GM crops, citing scientific findings on the risks they pose to health, the environment, and farmers’ livelihoods.

While the group acknowledged the Sanggunian’s commitment to food security, sustainable agricultural development, and farmers’ welfare, they urged the Provincial Government to:

1. Uphold and strengthen the 2007 and 2011 anti-GMO ordinances without dilution or repeal.
2. Conduct broad-based, transparent, and more inclusive, less-emotional public hearings on the proposed ordinance (meaningful consultation with farmers, scientists, health experts, consumers, and civil society is essential before any irreversible decision is made; the haste in advancing this ordinance falls short of due process and inclusive governance).
3. Provide relevant data to scientifically and transparently validate the conclusion that introducing GMOs will address food security in Negros Occidental.
4. Make a final stand on its commitment to host the Organic World Congress in 2027.
5. Redirect resources to bolster farmers’ capacities, agricultural infrastructure, and sustainable farming systems.

“By embracing this path, Negros Occidental will continue to be a model of sustainable agriculture, food security, and organic excellence — not a testing ground for GMO interests,” the coalition concluded.

In its position paper, HRANO said, “We strongly oppose the entry, planting, and distribution of living GMOs in our province. Our position stems from the direct and lasting consequences that living GMOs would have on the hotel and restaurant industry — an industry that depends on safe, authentic, and locally sourced ingredients to sustain its operations and reputation.”

“Our industry is also deeply tied to the tourism sector, where Negros has positioned itself as a leader in organic agriculture and sustainable gastronomy.”

“Tourists come here not just for beaches or festivals, but for the unique culinary experiences that highlight fresh, local, and chemical-free food,” the statement further said.