Oriental Negros Vice Gov. Jose Baldado said he will work for the passage of an ordinance banning genetically-modified organisms in the province.

Baldado spoke at the launching of the Negros Island Civil Society-NGO-PO Organic Agriculture Agenda, held at the Royal Suites Inn, in Dumaguete City, a press release from Kaisampalad Inc. said yesterday.

Speaking on behalf of Gov. George Arnaiz, Baldado said that since a memorandum of agreement has already been signed by the governor declaring Negros as the Organic Food Bowl of the country, and committing to the ban on GMOs, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan should come up with an ordinance supporting it, the press release said.

Renato Bañas of the La Salle University-Bacolod, and Visayas nominee to the National Organic Agriculture Board, said he is impressed by the consistent and strong support provided by the Oriental Negros to the MOA signed between Arnaiz and Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon.

Nenita Seno of the DA Regional Field Unit 7, said the department is committed to support initiatives under their High Value Crops Program, and is willing to explore opportunities for partnership, technical and other support, for the organizations involved, the press release said.

Lucito Rastica, president of the province-wide association of municipal agriculturists said they will pass a resolution committing to implement organic agriculture.

Also supporting the agenda were funding agencies like the Foundation for Philippine Environment, Philippine Development Assistance Program, and the Peace and Equity Foundation, the press release said.

The launching of the Negros Island CSO-NGO-PO Organic Agenda was a joint undertaking of two key provincial networks, the Negros Organic Agriculture Movement in Negros Occidental and the Organic Negros Alliance of Negros Oriental. The two networks, composed of over 50 organizations, have come up with an agenda for the CSO-NGO-PO community, to parallel the efforts made by the two governors in creating the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation, the press release also said.

The agenda itself is composed of 164 action items, which the two networks are hoping to be adopted by the provincial administrations of Arnaiz and Marañon, the press release added.*

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