Gov Aumentado orders fast

recall, disposal of GMO corn

CORTES, Bohol, Aug 19 (PIA) –Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado has issued an Executive Order recalling all distributed Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) corn in Bohol consistent with the provincial ordinance prohibiting the use and planting of GMO here, and reactivating the GMO monitoring Committee.

Through Executive order No 30, series of 2023, the governor has reiterated the provincial development policy on natural and sustainable agriculture and in preserving the integrity of the local biosystem and ecology for posterity.

Acting on reports on distribution, planting and field testing of GMO corn and in fact this time hearing it from the Department of Agriculture and its representative during the El NinoTtask Force meeting last May 12, 2023, the governor, through his executive order cited section 3 of Provincial ordinance No 2003-10.

That specific section states that no person shall conduct any laboratory or field testing or any activity whatsoever, for the propagation of or experimentation related to GMOS on any plant, animal or micro-organism in any area within the territorial jurisdiction of Bohol.

Section 4 of the same ordinance ruled that any violation would be meted out with affine of not more than P5,000 or imprisonment not over one year of both, at the discretion of the court.

Moreover, it says juridical entitles found in violation of such ordinance could be subject to closure.

Immediately after the El Nino Task Force Meeting in May, the governor through its executive assistant on agriculture, convened to investigate the extent of the violation and discussed actions to further protect the welfare of Boholanos exposed to the potential threat.

Following the confirmation of the violation, the governor called for the immediate cessation of GMO distribution by all agencies and private individuals or entities, distribution channels and stakeholders involved in the sale, transfer or distribution of GMO corn in Bohol.

Aumentado also ordered the immediate and comprehensive retrieval and disposal of GMO corn in Bohol to ensure their disposal.

He also ordered through the executive act, the reactivation of the GMO monitoring Committee.

As for the monitoring and implementation of such, the governor tasked the Office of the provincial Agriculturist along with the Multi-Sectoral GMO Monitoring Committee to carry out the order, monitor the progress of the retrieval and disposal as well as take all the necessary legal action to safeguard the interest of the people and maintain the ecological balance of the province.

Even then, last May, Botong, Marawis, Maubo, Omjon Corn-growers Association BOMMOCA, passed resolution No 1, series of 2023, requested Governor Aumentado and the provincial legislators for an amendment of the ordinance banning the planting of GMO corn.

Kon mahimo, wala na unta ang maong balaod aron mapasayon ang pag-uma sa mais, ilabi na sa pagkakaron nga mahal na ang suholan sa pagpahinlo ug pagpatrabaho sa maisan.

If possible, take out the ordinance to facilitate corn farming, especially now that the costs of land preparation for corn farms are expensive.

The resolution as signed by BOMMOCA secretary Vilma Deloso and attested by Teresita Gamale, BOMMOCA president.

GMO authority Dr. Chito Miranda, in a webinar all debunked claims that GMOs help abolish hunger, has a higher yield, adapts well to climate change, is a cheaper food, resistant to pests and drought and allegedly has a better nutritional value.

Dr Miranda claimed that in the last 30 years, 4 GMO crops incoude soybeans, corn, canola and cotton and all use two traits: herbicide tolerance and pest resistance through glyphosate, which has been proven to be carcinogenic.

In fact, a study showed that a farmer using GMO Roundup-Ready Corn spent 10,500 for every 20 kilogram of RR Corn over P4,500 for every 20 kilogram of normal hybrid corn.

Glyphosate is proven to be toxic to cells, and hitting the neurohormones in humans, this causes birth defects, endocrine disruption, autism, tumors, kidney diseases apart from cancer causing. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

FULL HOUSE. PROS and Anti GMO gathered last week at the BPSTEA to clarify issues and air out concerns on the reported field testing of Roundup Ready GMO corn in some farms in Bohol despite a provincial ordinance that prohibited that. Many believe that the GMO corn, which were designed for feed mill raw materials were in fact eaten by farmers in Bohol. (PIABohol/foto by Lito Paderog)

SEAL Bohol from illegal drugs;

Authorities redraw battleplan

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Aug 18 (PIA) –Picking up their part in the fight against illegal drugs and their trade, Bohol police authorities and the uniformed service launch Operation plan SEAL BOHOL (OPLAN SEAL Bohol) to coordinate efforts and plug any possible leaks making the province impenetrable to drugs and advance supply reduction.

Oplan SEAL BOHOL takes the drug supply reduction in three levels of approaches, explains Police Major Norman Nuez, at the recent joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Anti Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), at the Capitol Ceremonial Hall, August 2.

The Camp Dagohoy operation plan came about and was presented at the same meeting where authorities reported 417 arrests: 22 high value individuals and 395 street level individuals, in the campaign’s first seven months of the year.

The same report unsettled joint council members over the total seized illegal drugs weighing 10,644.93 grams or 10.64 kilos with an estimated value reaching P72,385,524.00, and some six fire-arms.

In fact, in July alone, authorities seized 3.8 kilos of illegal drugs that could have gone to the streets if these were not confiscated, which concerned members during the meeting.

Over the apparent flooding of drugs in the streets, Camp Dagohoy proposes something.

Seas and the coastal waters are to be taken care by the Bantay Dagat, Maritime Police, the Barangay Intelligence Network, barangay tanods and barangay officials form the first barrier to deter the smuggling and entry of drugs in the locality, said Major Nuez, who is Camp Francisco Dagohoy’s operations officer.

Entry ports will be the domain of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency which used K9 drug sniffing dogs doing random sniffing, including the inspection of rolling cargo and transiting vehicles and arriving vessels, he added.

Airport screening will also be done, with the coordination of the airport police and other airport authorities.

And then, on land, is the last defense, the decorated official revealed.

Here, checkpoints, oplan sita, buy bust and other apprehensions are implemented as vigorously.

The official reasoned out that Bohol’s problem with drugs now dwarfs the problem in 2015-2016 and some 6,990 of the nearly 40,000 who graduated in the community based rehabilitation program without walls, there is still a concerning number of persons who use drugs now craving.

With 39,319 drug surrenderees, and some 16,143 who are still enrolled and are expected to completely flush out the drugs in their systems, this leaves some 16,168 drug users who may have surrendered but have shunned away from rehabilitation.

As the 16,168 persons who use drugs now possibly sliding back and are back on tooters, police estimate some 1.1 kilos of shabu consumed weekly for their cravings.

This he sums, is some 4.5 kilos of shabu per month.

With the 3.8 kilos seized, this is certainly hurting the pockets of the local distributors, Maj Nuez said.

With SEAL BOHOL in place, authorities also expect the continuing offer of the CBRP WOW in the demand reduction side of the problem. (rahc/PIA_7/Bohol)

INSULATE BOHOL. Police Major Norman Nuez presents Oplan SEAL Bohol, an interagency coordinated tactical offensive against drugs by reducing supply. Nuez said with 16000 users refusing to undergo rehabilitation, they would need 4.5 kilos of shabu every month to satisfy their cravings. If this supply gets disrupted, then these people would be forced to stop or get the treatment. (PIABohol)