After a series of deliberations and feedback from scientists and experts, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental reached a consensus to amend the controversial ordinance banning the entry of genetically-modified organisms into the province, ViceGovernor Emilio Yulo III said yesterday. This was after majority of the members of various committees who reviewed the ordinance, made four preliminary agreements that include among others, allowing the entry of GMO products for processing into feeds to cater to the needs of livestock and poultry industries, the entry of non-living GMOs as well as pharmaceuticals and medical products, and the conduct of research and development under strict controlled conditions.

THE government should channel its limited resources on research and development (R&D) that focuses on improving the yield of inbred rice, instead of prompting costly technologies such as hybrid rice. This was one of the recommendations of a research report, titled ”Philippine Agricultural and Food Policies,” published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (Ifpri). ”Enhancing an inbred-based system that is adapted to farmers’ familiar practice of saving, reusing and exchanging seeds would be a more responsive approach to improving productivity than promoting...hybrid rice, which has not yet achieved commercially viable levels,” the study read.

The Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines, in a copy of is presentation sent to the DAILY STAR, said that the country is among the regions in the world that is home to some 642 million people suffering from hunger based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. [...] While the country is affected by food insecurity, the BCP showed in its data that biotech crops can help reverse the situation, with yields projected to reach as much as 18 tons per hectare in 2030 for corn alone.

Greenpeace, a global campaigner for the protection and conservation of the environment, led a rally yesterday afternoon calling on the Negros Occidental Sanggunian to preserve the province as the country’s organic farming capital. About 100 farmers and members of church and civic groups gathered in front of the provincial Capitol in Bacolod to press members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to uphold Provincial Ordinance 007, which bans the entry of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and secures the future of Negros as the organic farming capital of the Philippines.

Amid lingering scepticism about possible health risks of GM (genetically modified) crops, Philippines is going ahead with its biotechnological adventures in crops. After commercializing the GM corn, Philippines government is set to introduce GM Golden Rice enriched with Vitamin A. The government funded Philippine Rice Research Institute (Phil Rice) executive director Ronilo A. Beronio told ET that GM crops are answers to food security. ”We are aiming to be self sufficient by 2013.

Corn farmers in Negros Occidental should be able to meet local demand without having to use genetically modified varieties, given the availability of modern post-harvest facilities, [...] Rommel Ledesma, executive director of Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (NISARD), told reporters [...] ”There’s no question about the number of farmers [who want to plant corn] and even the hectarage. There’s more than enough [land],” said Mr. Ledesma.

Negros Oriental officials said they will undertake a thorough study before pushing for a legislative measure banning the entry and trade of genetically-modified organisms in the province. [...] NISARD had invited a Mexican scientist, Dr. Camilo Beltran, whose expertise focuses on bio-chemistry and molecular biology, to help review the provision of the Memorandum of Agreement between the two Negros provinces on the ban against GMOs.

Leaders of livestock and poultry industries in Negros Occidental have called on members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental to base their decision on the controversial genetically-modified organism ordinance on facts and figures. Albert Lim, president of the Negros Occidental Hog Raisers Association, said SP members should ensure that their decision will benefit the many, as the marathon en banc committee hearing for GMO ordinance, in preparation for its review, ended Friday.

Civil society and the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development yesterday said they will continue to push for a continued implementation of the provincial government ban on genetically modified organisms in Negros Occidental. The transitory period has lapsed, it should not be extended, said Ramon Uy, president of the Negros Organic Retailers and Producers Association. Rommel Ledesma of NISARD said the primary purpose of the ordinance is to ensure Negros’ becoming the organic island of the country.

The first submergence-tolerant rice variety in the Philippines was released during the 27th Council Secretariat Meeting on July 7. [...] ”Submarino 1 is a non-genetically engineered rice plant that can survive, grow and develop even after 10 days of complete submergence in water at vegetative stage,” said Dr. Nenita V. Desamero, DA-PhilRice plant breeder and team leader of the on-farm testing of submergence rice in the Philippines.