DAVAO City Councilor Rachel Zozobrado, vice-chair of the Committee on Agriculture of the Davao City Council, said they will push for proper labeling of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) products for consumer’s benefit.
Zozobrado, in a media interview at the sideliness of the policy forum protecting the rights of Organic Agriculture Practitioners in Davao City Against Genitically Modified Organism contamination, said that she will collaborate with councilor Marissa Abella Committee on Food and Agriculture to push through an ordinance that will ensure proper labeling of farm products.
“After listening earlier, you’ll see how dangerous ang introduction ng GMO and we know also for a fact that spread out na ang GMO. I am thinking of collaboration with Councilor Abella because it is her committee,” Zozobrado said.
She said that the labeling will be on foods containing GMO, not only on the finished products but also as suggested by Interface Development Interventions (Idis).
He said that this is necessary because GMO products can cause adverse effects on the health of the consumers and a violation on the consumer’s rights.
Meanwhile, Zozobrado wishes that the city will be able to police manufacturers who spread GMO products and hopes that people will be more aware of its ill iffects.
She said many people only act if there are already disorders, quoting the speaker that prevention still is better than cure.
She added that a lot of people are trying to go organic, which are costly than products with GMO that are more affordable.
“We will ask mayor to totally ban GMO here in Davao because there are several municipalities and cities na naa na silay ing-ana. We will coordinate with Idis, GO Organic Mindanao and City Agriculturist Office,” Zozobrado added. (Karina Canedo, SUNSTAR DAVAO)