Manuel Manuel denies attacking Gwen's organic farming program

CEBU, Philippines – Manuel T. Manuel, the organic system consultant of Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, yesterday denied “attacking” the organic farming program of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Manuel’s alleged attacks are reportedly the reason why his consultancy contract can no longer be renewed.

Manuel did not deny commenting negatively on Garcia’s organic farming program, but said he commented only on its implementation. He said Garcia’s “Go Organic” program has been allegedly distributing a mislabeled brand because

Manuel did not deny that he had commented negatively on Governor Gwen’s organic farming program, but more only on its implementation. Gov. Gwen’s “Go Organic” program has allegedly been distributing a mislabeled brand of organic fertilizer, which is reportedly not certifiable as such. This, he said, is taboo in organic farming system.

“Correcting a malpractice is not attacking, but it is giving the public the appropriate information,” Manuel said in a press release.

He said the Capitol distributed fertilizer through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist cannot be certified as an organic fertilizer and Gov. Gwen’s organic program has been circulated throughout the province for over a year.

The 10 million granted to the province from the Department of Agriculture last year, which was mainly intended for the purchase of organic fertilizer for distribution to farmers, was reportedly used to purchase processed chicken manure from Bantayan Island that still retained its foul odor, therefore, could not be certified as organic fertilizer.

The purchase of the said fertilizer by the province allegedly violated Executive Order 481 and Republic Act 10068 or the act providing for the development and promotion of organic agriculture in the Philippines. Mixing chemosynthetic inorganic fertilizer will reportedly aggravate green house effect that will result to global warming.

Manuel said the use of partially decomposed processed manure (including chicken manure) promoted the intestinal ailments caused by E. coli, salmonella and carcinogenic aflatoxin that will make manure as its most favorable habitat.

Organic fertilizer is defined as materials coming from bodies and wastes of plants and animals which are thoroughly decomposed that its original state cannot be recognized anymore (physical or odor), and from materials free of chemosynthetic and inorganic substances and free pathogens and toxic substances that is soil-like in appearance.

Manuel added that Garcia was against the organic farming program of Sanchez, which reportedly maintains a demonstration farm training center in aid of legislation.

Meanwhile, Garcia denied politics is behind the assignment of some employees to the different municipalities in the islands of Bantayan, Daanbantayan and Camotes.

Garcia issued the statement in response to alleged insinuations made by Sanchez that politics has something to do with the transfer of some Capitol employees..

Garcia said the reassignment of the employees was based on recommendation of their respective departments. She says the barangays in the island municipalities need immediate attention in terms of delivery of basic services.

Garcia stressed there is a need to tap the expertise of every employee regardless of their political loyalties.

“Ang mga empleyado angayan nga mutan-aw nga sila loyal ngadto sa katawhan ug dili magtan-aw nga sila loyal lamang sa usa ka tawo o politiko,” Garcia said. (THE FREEMAN)