ABS-CBN News Philippines 20 July 2004 The landmark ordinance adopted by the provincial government prohibiting the entry of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Bohol will be publicly launched on July 21 as one of the highlights of the Sandugo-Agri Fair. On June 16 last year the Sangguniang Panlalawigan unanimously passed Resolution 2003-235 declaring Bohol free of GMO to protect the ecological balance of the province and health safety of Boholanos from the adverse effects of GMOs. The resolution was followed by Provincial Ordinance 2003-010, known as the Safeguard against GMOs, which enumerated the conditions against the entry of GM plants, animals and microorganisms into the province with corresponding peresolution and ordinance. Bohols legislation against GMOs is the first of its kind in the Philippines and comes amid growing worldwide concerns about the environmental and health impact of GMOs. GMOs are organisms that have been modified through genetic engineering to contain new genes from unrelated species or organisms. One common example of GMO is a corn variety that contains a pesticidal toxin gene from soil bacteria. The corn, known as Bt corn (after the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis) is said to kill the corn borer when it attacks because of the presence of the Bt toxin in the modified corn plant. There is concern that the pesticidal property of the corn plant will make corn borer immune and more destructive to farmers over time, and that human consumption of corn will result in adverse health effects. Despite these concerns, the Department of Agriculture allowed the commercialization of the Bt corn variety of Monsanto called Dekalb 818 YG (Yieldgard) in December 2002. Other seed companies have also applied for commercialization of their own GM varieties. With the possibility of the country being overrun by unsafe GMOs and containing farmers seeds, the province of Bohol took an unprecedented step by adopting the GMO-free legislation. This is in line with the declaration of Bohol as the countrys prime ecological tourism destination and consistent with efforts to make Bohol a source of organically grown farm and food products. The GMO-free legislation placed Bohol in a unique position to tap the growing market for organic products nationally and globally since the absence of GMOs in the province makes it easier for farmers to turn to organic production. In a recent meeting of the Multisectoral GMO Monitoring Committee, a mandate under the ordinance to oversee its implementation, committee chairman, Gov. Erico Aumentado, expressed his strong commitment to enforce the GMO-free legislation and program of the province. The committee consists of representatives from government, business and civil society sectors. The launching of the GMO-free ordinance on July 21 will mark the start of province-wide information and education campaign on GMOs and the establishment of monitoring mechanisms to prevent the entry of GMO in Bohol. The launching will commence with multisectoral march at 5 p.m. from Plaza Rizal to the Tagbilaran port, site of Agri-Fair activities. where a billboard declaring Bohol GMO-free will be unveiled. Similar billboards will be put up at Bohols main ports of entry. Provincial leaders, including Aumentado and Herrera, will lead the launching of the GMO-free ordinance together with representatives of civil society and farmers organizations.