PBGh resounded the call touphold Anti-GMO Ordinance
The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist resounded its
request to the municipal mayors of the 14 towns in Bohol who were the beneficiaries of the Genetically Modified
Organism (GMO) Corn seeds from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-7 to uphold or to take appropriate action of
ensuring the enforcement of Anti-GMO Ordinance in the province of Bohol.
This came after where only one of the 14 municipalities heeded the call.
Municipal Mayor Elizabeth Mandin Pace in the town of Catigbian, Bohol in her replied letter dated September
13, 2023 addressed to Provincial Agriculturist Liza M. Quirog said that the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist has
conducted information dissemination to the farmers citing Provincial Ordinance No. 2003-010 also known as Anti-
GMO Ordinance and advising them to hold the production and no replanting will be done.
Mayor Pace justified that based on their Local Government Unit (LGU) programs and projects, they have not
purchased GMO corn seeds for their farmers, however, they only facilitated the distribution of corn seeds from the
DA and OPA.
Other towns who were identified by DA 7 as their beneficiaries of GMO corn seeds to wit: Clarin, Dagohoy,
Buenavista, Sikatuna, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Loon, Ubay, Valencia, Carmen, Alicia, Sierra-Bullones, Trinidad and
San Miguel.
Provincial Agriculturist Quirog in her letter addressed to the Bohol Mayors dated August 18, 2023, reminded
them about the implementation of Executive Order No. 30 officially signed by Governor Erico Aristotle C.
Aumentado last June 6, 2023 mandating the immediate recall of all distributed and planted GMO Corn across the
province of Bohol, while concurrently reactivating the GMO Monitoring Committee.
According to Quirog, our collective awareness of Provincial Ordinance No.2003-010 underscores the importance
of stringent measures aimed at safeguarding the health of the Boholanos and preserving the ecological equilibrium
of our beloved province. This ordinance, which outlines penalties for transgressions, serves as our guiding
framework in these endeavors.
She urged and encouraged all local chief executives to take swift action in implementing the pro- visions set
forth in E.O. No.30, effective immediately.
In her another letter dated August 31, 2023, addressed to the 14 mayors with attached lists of farmers in the
municipalities who allegedly cultivating GMO Corn, Quirog said that there has been a direct violation of the Anti-
GMO Ordinance as mandated by Provincial Ordinance No. 2003-010.
She cited in this letter, that this violation not only undermines the principles of sustainable and organic farming
but also poses potential risks to our environment, biodiversity, and public health.
Quirog emphasized that by taking swift and decisive action against this violation, we will reaffirm our
commitment to protecting our environment, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and maintaining the health
and safety of our citizens.
In the Executive Order No. 30 by Gov. Aumentado, the governor brought the attention in Section 3 of the
ordinance that “ No person shall conduct any laboratory or field testing or any activity whatsoever for the
propagation of or experimentation related to GMOs of any plant, animal or microorganism in any area within the
territorial jurisdiction of the province of Bohol” and Section 4 where “Any violation of this ordinance shall be meted
with a fine of not more than Five Thousand Pesos (P5, 000.00) or imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year or both
fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court; while juridical entities involved shall also be subject to
closure’.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol sometimes in the month of August, 2003 passed a Provincial
Ordinance No. 2003-010 authored by then Vice G0vernor Julius Caesar F. Herrera, chairman, Committee on
Agriculture entitled “ Instituting Stringent Measures to Safeguard the Health of the Boholanos and Protect the
Ecological Soundness of the Province of Bohol from the Possible Disastrous Ill-effects of Genetically Modified
Organisms, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, and for Other Purposes.
Gov. Aumentado in his letter addressed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. dated on September 13, 2023 most
humbly and respectfully requested that the province of Bohol be excluded from the introduction of GMO seeds and
materials, and from activities related to studies, technology transfer, or experimentation related to GMO. It is also
requested that any ongoing activity in Bohol related to the foregoing be halted.
Aumentado disclosed that Bohol has been positioning itself as a place for organic agriculture as the province has
prioritized agriculture as one of its concerns as it is one of its main economic drivers.By Atoy Cosap
