GMO Ordinance Valencia City, Bukidnon

Republic of the Philippines
Province of Bukidnon
City of Valencia

Office of the City Council
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EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 12TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF VALENCIA, HELD AT THE CITY SESSION HALL ON MARCH 26, 2001

Present:

Afrodisia H. Catarata City Vice Mayor/Presiding Officer
Almer M. Alfonso Sr. M.D. Member
Glenn P. Peduche Member
Eduardo D. Chan Member
Gloria G. Abejuela Member
Benjamin A. Verano, M.D. Member
Ranulfo E. Pepito Member
Wilfredo G. Pesquera Member
Teodulfo R. Pechora, ABC Federation President Member
Roy S. Rabina, SK Federation President Member

Absent: Myrna L. Alonso Member


ORDINANCE No. 11
Series of 2001

AN ORDINANCE DECLARING A FIVE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASE OF ALL GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs) CROPS AND PRODUCTS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES AND /OR OPEN FIELD TRIALS IN THE CITY OF VALENCIA (MARCH 2001-MARCH 2006).

Proponent: Councilor Ranulfo E. Pepito

BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of Valencia, Bukidnon, that:

Section 1. Prohibited Act. No person, group of persons, corporations
or any other form of organization shall plant, propagate or mass produce Genetically Modified Oranisms (GMOs) products such as Bt corn and rice among others within the City of Valencia, Province of Bukidnon in the next five years (2001-2006).

Section 2. Administrative Provisions:

2.a. There shall be created a GMO Monitoring Committee for the City of Valencia by the City Mayor.

2.b. The Committee shall compose of a representative from the
City Agriculture Office, City Health Office, NGO (non-government organization), people’s organization (PO) and any other interested person that is concerned with our deteriorating environment.

2.c. The Monitoring Committee shall be vested with power to
enter and investigate any private or public property planted with corn or rice and/or any other planting materials or animals with suspected characters of being a GMO.

Section 3. Definition of Terms as used in this Ordinance:

3.a. GMOs are organisms (microorganisms) like plants,
animals, soil organisms, etc. where a particular gene that determine a particular characteristic is changed, modified or manipulated with the processes employed in Genetic Engineering.

3.b. To Plant. Is the act of planting or intent to plant a
genetically modified crop like Bt corn, Bt rice, among others in a certain open field or area prohibited within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Valencia as stipulated in Section of this Ordinance.

3.c. Propagate or Mass produce. Is the act of planting
genetically modified crop in the open field or area within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Valencia.

3.d. Duly Authorized Persons. Are members of the committee
stipulated in Section 2.b. of this Ordinance or any other bodies, persons. Organizations that the committee may authorize.

Section 4. Penalty Clause. Any person, group of persons, corporations,
or any other organizations or institutions found violating this Ordinance shall be punished by the following:

4.a A fine of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00).

4.b. Imprisonment of not more than one (1) year but not less
that six (6) months.

4.c. Or both at the discretion of the court.

4.d. Illegally planted plants shall be uprooted by the duly authorized persons at the expense of the owner.

Section 5. This Ordinance shall be effective and enforces within the City of Valencia within the next five (5) years, from March 2001 – March 2006.

Section 6. Effectivity. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately
upon approval.

ENACTED: March 26, 2001.

APPROVED:

I HEREBY CERTIFY to the correctness of the foregoing ordinance.

(signed)
RONNIE Z. RONQUILLO, SR.
Secretary to the Sanggunian


ATTESTED:

(signed)
AFRODISIA H. CATARATA
City Vice Mayor
Presiding Officer

APPROVED:
VETOED:

(signed) 5-2-2001
BERTHOBAL R. ANCHETA
City Mayor