A municipality in Oriental Mindoro is moving for a ban on the planting of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to pave the way for its plan to become a haven for organic crops.

In a press briefing, Naujan Municipal Agriculturist Ely Vargas said the town's environmental code is currently being drafted and will provide for a total ban on the entry, sale and planting of GMOs in the locality.

"The Sangguniang Bayan is about to pass the environment code so that law against GMOs can have more teeth because we are pushing for the total ban of GMOs. With this, Naujan can be a genuine organic haven. We want to have an organic farming system towards our agricultural development," Mr. Vargas said.

The Naujan municipal government has passed Resolution 04-1888 supporting initiatives from their congressional representatives to make the Mimaropa region (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) as the Organic Haven of the Philippines.

The resolution states that the vision of becoming an organic farming area is a step towards sustainable development.

"The situation of our agricultural sector is very ideal to embrace natural and ecological organic farming methods" it states.

Naujan, with about 29,000 hectares of agricultural land, is one of several areas in the Philippines where farmers aspire for organic and sustainable farming.

Several Naujan farmers, with the support of their municipal agriculturist and agricultural technician, want to prevent the further planting of Bt corn, a genetically-engineered variety, in their agricultural lands by biotechnology firm Monsanto Corp.

Tomas Datinguinoo, a Naujan farmer, disputed claims of higher economic gains brought about by planting Bt corn.

" After hearing that Bt corn will mean higher yields and will not be attacked by the corn borer, I decided to try my luck with Bt corn. However, after planting three hectares of Bt corn, I decided to go back to conventional varieties because I did not earn more than I used to due to the high cost of seeds and inputs," he said.

Mr. Vargas said the planting of Bt corn required about 15 bags of fertilizers whereas the planting of the traditional corn variety can do without fertilization.

Bt corn cultivation is about three to five times higher than for ordinary seeds, he claimed.