Three board members of Negros Occidental are pushing for the amendment of the controversial ordinance banning the entry of genetically-modified organisms into the province, by proposing a legislation, that will promote sustainable agriculture and protect biodiversity.

The proposed ordinance, jointly authored by Board Members Edgardo Acuna, Enrique Miguel Lacson and Nehemias de la Cruz, was calendared  by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental among the reference of business during its regular session yesterday.

Vice Governor Emilio Yulo III, however, said the proposed amendment of GM ordinance cannot be acted upon yet, as they are still waiting  for a decision of the Department of Interior and Local Government on it.

To be known as the Sustainable Agriculture Act of 2009, the proposed ordinance of Acuna, Lacson and de la Cruz promotes the importance of biodiversity in sustaining life and important role in sustainable agriculture.

It also recognizes that there are several farming systems in sustainable agriculture requiring different resources that may offer different economic opportunities.

Thus, it is the policy of the province to respect farmers’ choice of their own farming system, the proposed resolution said.

In the proposed ordinance, the Office of the Provincial Governor shall formulate program that shall respect individual farmer’s choice of farming methods, and to provide incentives to the adoption of scientifically deemed sustainable agricultural practices;
Promote suitable organic farming practices and co-existence of various sustainable farming systems such as between organic farming and GMO-based farming;
Assist various farmers groups in the production of environment-friendly agricultural inputs and support the conduct of research on sustainable agriculture, including those involving GMO in accordance with existing national regulations.

The SP may also conduct an independent review of the program after five years of implementation unless a situation arises that the SP decides it necessary to conduct an earlier review. *GPB

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