Bulacan mayors endorse formation of BIONet

AT LEAST 13 Bulacan mayors led by League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bulacan Chapter President Ambrosio Cruz recently signed a resolution endorsing the formation of a Biotechnology Information and Organization Network (BIONet) as part of its commitment to promote the use of biotechnology for local development and agriculture modernization.

The Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAOs) from 17 out of 21 Bulacan municipalities who attended a two-day seminar entitled “Empowering Bulacan LGUs and POs on Biotechnology” held at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in Subic, Zambales also signed a manifesto of commitment to Bionet’s goals.

With the signing, Bulacan becomes the first provincial local government unit to endorse the formation of BIONet. The resolution supports the policy of the government to promote safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products as one of the several means to achieve and sustain food security, equitable access to health services, sustainable and safe environment and industry development.

BIONet, is a partnership among provincial government, local government units, farmers, and concerned local private sector and business investors and the Biotechnology for Life Media Advocacy Resource Center (BMARC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the promotion of biotechnology for local development and exploration of possible partnerships for biotechnology commerce.

The BIONet task force shall serve as task force and technical working group on biotechnology in the provinces – in this case, the province of Bulacan and coordinate with biotechnology experts to address issues and concerns on biotechnology.

It shall also explore possible partnerships with technology developers to boost livelihood and provide income-generating business opportunities for local economic development. Cruz, who is mayor of Guiguinto, known as the orchids and ornamental plants capital of Bulacan said the application of modern biotechnology in agriculture offers farmers a better chance of generating more revenue because such technology increases yield and reduces cost of production. He said the LMP Bulacan Chapter will also pass the resolution fully supporting the DA’s plan to boost bio-commerce and urge his fellow mayors to push for the passing of an ordinance designating specific area devoted to biotech crops. Cruz said the province’s population is about to breach the three-million mark as it grows by at least 4.7 percent annually. “Bulacan is growing fast and this means increased demand for food. We need to improve our agricultural production since our agricultural lands are being swallowed by industrialization,” he said.

Bulacan’s total land area is 262,500 hectares, of which 121,066 hectares are used for agriculture. However, massive land conversion in the province in the last decade have reduced its agricultural land to size that may not be able to support the food demand of the people of Bulacan.

The Guiguinto mayor said modern biotechnology applied in agriculture would make wonders and somehow increase food production.