Board Member Adolfo Mangao yesterday said he will recommend the retention of the ordinance banning the entry of Genetically Modified Organisms into Negros Occidental.

Mangao said he is against the moratorium on the GMO ban sought by poultry and livestock growers.

Mangao, the author of the ordinance, chairs the adhoc committee tasked by Governor Isidro Zayco to hear the positions of those who are for and against the GMO ban.

Poultry and livestock growers are pushing for a moratorium on the ban pointing out that there is a lack of non-GMO products for their feeds and insisting that genetically modified products are safe for human consumption.

Those who are against the entry of GMO products stress the need to retain the ban to protect the health of Negrenses and in order for Negros to achieve its goal of becoming an organic food bowl.

Mangao said he will submit to the governor today the position papers of all the members of the ad hoc committee as well as his recommendation, based on the hearings he conducted.

He also said he would back his position for the retention of the ban with appropriate data.

Zayco had earlier said he will pass the recommendation of the adhoc committee on to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for action, since it is the body tasked with revising ordinances if necessary.

At the adhoc committee hearing at the Capitol yesterday Former Rep. Manuel Puey, president of the Negros Occidental Poultry Raisers Association, said they are asking for a moratorium on the ban for two years until Negros Occidental is able to produce adequate non-genetically modified produce needed for the feeds of their animals.

The problem here is Negros Occidental is not producing enough non GMO corn for our livestock and poultry and the Department of Agriculture can confirm this, Puey said.

“If our request is not granted there is nothing we can do,” he said, adding that he did not want to talk about judicial intervention.

“I don’t agree with the ordinance but if it is really going to be implemented I will be the first one to obey,” he said.

At the ad hoc committee meeting, Puey raised the need for the body to consider the fact that sugar industry is also tinkering around with the production of genetically modified cane in its laboratories to increase productivity.

He recommended that the adhoc committee coordinate with the PHILSURIN and the sugar industry on the matter.

Mangao did not let the sugar people at the meeting speaks saying they are not members of the adhoc committee but he asked them to also submit their position papers, Puey said.

Mangao said the sugar people can submit their verified report and “We will see what the governor has to say on the matter”.*CPG

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