Dumaguete City is being eyed as venue for the Visayas forum against the genetically-modified golden rice targeted to hit the Philippine commercial market by 2013.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia Sustainable Agriculture campaigner Danny Ocampo said Dumaguete is an ideal setting for the forum because of the strong tendency of local sectors towards organic farming, and since the city and Negros Oriental are known for their anti-GMO stance.

There have been moves to oppose or ban the entry of genetically-engineered corn and eggplant to the province, Ocampo also said.

He said the commercialization of the genetically-modified rice, known as golden rice, will largely impact on the public, considering that majority of Filipinos are rice-eaters.

GMO food crops threaten the health, the environment and the livelihood of farmers, he said in a telephone interview yesterday. He added that the rice is being tested in Camarines Sur, Nueva Ecija and Batac, Ilocos Norte.

He said he will be in Dumaguete tomorrow to plan the forum with those involved in the protection and preservation of the environment, and Ocampo added that he hopes for its success with the support of Negrenses.*JFP

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