By CESAR JOLITO III
A group has strongly opposed a proposed provincial ordinance that seeks to regulate genetically modified organisms (GMOs), insisting that Negros Occidental must remain GMO-free in line with its long-standing commitment to organic farming.
The opposition comes from the GMO-Free Negros Coalition after the provincial government’s joint legal-scientific team recommended amendments to the province’s existing GMO ordinance to harmonize local rules with the national policy framework under Joint Department Circular (JDC) No. 1, series of 2021, issued by five national agencies led by the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Agriculture.
The GMO-Free Negros Coalition — which includes farmers, indigenous groups, church leaders, civil society organizations, scientists, and organic agriculture advocates — argued that the province is under no legal obligation to align its local law with the JDC.
They stressed that the circular sets only minimum national standards and cannot override the constitutional authority of local governments to impose stricter safeguards, including outright bans.
“Negros must defend its heritage and safeguard the future of the next generations. To open the door to GMOs would put farmers, ecosystems and food sovereignty at grave risk,” the coalition said in a statement.
However, the Provincial Legal Office earlier maintained that the proposed “GMO Regulatory Ordinance” seeks only to ensure consistency between provincial policies and the national framework, which still requires strict evaluation and approval by the National Biosafety Committee.
But the coalition warned that repealing or watering down the existing ban on living GMOs would erode the Negros Occidental’s gains as the “Organic Capital of the Philippines” and “Organic Food Bowl of Southeast Asia.”
On September 1, church leaders, scientists and organic farming advocates also signed a declaration opposing GMO testing in the province.
Among the signatories were Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos, Fr. Julius Espinosa of Caritas Bacolod, and representatives from groups such as the Nisard Foundation, IFOAM Asia, Kaisahan, and Masipag.
The coalition vowed to continue resisting any attempt to weaken Negros Occidental’s anti-GMO policy, framing the issue as not only about agriculture but also about food sovereignty, ecological justice and the province’s democratic right to self-determination./CJ, WDJ