Organic Farming Champions Fight GMO Testing in Negros Occidental
Organic farming advocates in Negros Occidental strongly oppose proposed GMO testing, citing threats to the province's leadership in sustainable agriculture. Religious leaders join environmental battle.
Organic farmers and environmental advocates gather in Negros Occidental to protest proposed GMO testing
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - In a significant development for Philippine agricultural sustainability, organic farming advocates are mounting strong opposition against proposed genetically modified organism (GMO) testing in Negros Occidental, the country's organic farming capital.
Clash Between Tradition and Technology
The controversy erupted after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved a first reading resolution outlining guidelines for GMO research and development. This move has sparked concern among local sustainability groups who fear it could undermine decades of organic farming progress in the region.
Edgardo Uychiat, president of the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation Inc., emphasized that the province's organic farming success stands fundamentally at odds with genetic modification practices. This stance reflects broader regional concerns about preserving local economic traditions.
Religious Leadership Joins Environmental Battle
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has added a spiritual dimension to the debate, stating, "We are stewards, not owners, of this land. To test GMOs in Negros Occidental is to sow seeds of greed where God calls us to sow seeds of life."
Government Response and Public Dialogue
Provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz II has called the reactions "premature and unfair," announcing a public hearing scheduled for September 9. This approach to stakeholder engagement mirrors recent government efforts to balance public concerns with policy implementation across the Philippines.
The outcome of this debate could set a crucial precedent for the future of agricultural policy in the Philippines, particularly regarding the coexistence of traditional organic methods and modern biotechnology.
Manny Pacquiao
Independent Filipino journalist covering democracy, civil rights, and government accountability across Southeast Asia.