Standing by the government’s policy on biotechnology, the Department of Agriculture has rejected the request of Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Maranon for support in imposing the ban on genetically modified organisms in the province.

"The provincial government of Negros Occidental is on its own as far as the ban on GMOs is concerned," the agency said in a statement.

Agriculture Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla has told Maranon in a letter that the DA is prevented from imposing a GMO ban, saying it runs counter to the national policy of "promoting the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology."

"The role of the DA regulations is to provide Filipino farmers a wide array of available technologies for agriculture production and ensure that the products of these technologies are determined safe by DA regulatory agencies consistent with standards on food, feed and environmental safety," Fondevilla said.

Fondevilla said the DA is barred from banning GM products, which have been approved and declared safe.

Maranon last month asked the DA’s active participation and support in imposing the ban on the entry, importation, growing, planting, selling and trading of GM plants and animals.

The provincial chief executive also asked the possibility of integrating or pairing monitoring stations to be put up by the provincial government with the existing quarantine arrangements of the DA.

Fondevilla, however, said that while the DA respects the decision of the provincial government of Negros Occidental to ban GMOs in the province to achieve its vision of becoming the country’s first organic food island, the agency cannot counter the national policy issued by President Arroyo in July 2001.

Such policy stated that the country "promotes the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology as one of several means to achieve and sustain food security, equitable access to health services, sustainable and safe environment, and industry development."

Fondevilla noted that the policy directed the agriculture, health, environment and natural resources and trade and industry departments, and other government agencies of the government, to come up with directives and regulations on the access and use of modern biotechnology products.
He added that the President also issued an executive order last year establishing the National Biosafety Framework.

Fondevilla, however, said the DA respects Maranon’s decision to establish the province as an organic food island, saying the DA is also promoting organic agriculture.