City Council supports call of farmers vs GMO rice

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council supports the move of the 50 farmers in Cebu who signed the petition asking the government to stop the approval of the use of genetically-modified organism variety of rice.

In a privilege speech, Councilor Nestor Archival, Sr. said that all farmers should be informed that GMO crops in farming are not beneficial to the sustainability of agricultural lands and food production.

"Have we ever wondered why farmers themselves would oppose the commercialization of golden rice if this type of rice is supposed to be good for our farmers, our consumers and our health? After all, if golden rice were a better breed, then farmers would have a better production, the better their sales, and the better for our consumers," he said.

"This can't be good for our farmers, our health, our environment. GMO crops threaten both sustainability of agricultural lands and food production, and will eventually lead to disaster on food security," he added.

With this, the City Council, in coordination with the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, requested the City Agriculture Department (CAD) to "intensify information and education campaign on organic farming and the effects of GMO; establish organic demo farms in the North and South Districts of Cebu City in order to encourage farmers to use organic methods of farming; and include in the CAD's 2015 Annual Budget funds for the information and Education Campaign Program for organic or natural farming and the establishment of demo farms for the North and South District."

The council also requested the Department of Agriculture-7 to spearhead an event celebrating the organic farmers in time for the World Food Day on October 16, 2014 in partnership with the CAD, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Province of Cebu.

Further, the council requested organizations promoting organic farming like the Cebu Organic Farmers and Gardeners Organization, Sudlon Farmers Livelihood Training and Services Foundation and anti-GMO organizations like Greenpeace, and other similar organizations, to coordinate with the CAD in promoting organic farming and discouraging genetically modified crops in farming.

Archival, a member of the council's committee on agriculture and rural development, said that he has brought the discussion in the council because it is the council's duty to the Cebuanos to craft and pass ordinances and resolutions that help and protect the public.

"We can help and protect the Cebuanos if we can help ensure that the food we bring to our tables is safe and healthy," he said, adding that advanced technology and science in producing food will bring harm than good to everyone.

Archival said that there are 8,415 hectares of farm land in the city, saying that it should be protected from the destruction that GMO crops can bring. — (FREEMAN)