SOME livestock and hog raisers already shifted to wheat instead of corn as feeds due to the increase in corn price at P2 a kilo.

The move also came after insufficiency in supply brought about by the ban on genetically-modified products was observed.

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The hogs and poultry raisers also iterated their prediction that collapse of the industry is likely with the corn supply deficit.

The industry consumes 900 tons of corn supply daily for the province’s 400,000 pigs, said Albert Lim, president of the Negros Occidental Commercial Hog Raisers Association.

Of the number, 70 percent are backyard raisers and 30 percent are commercial raisers.

“Many are badly affected with Ordinance 7 as they are incurring P1.8 million a day additional cost because of the ban on GMO corn,” Lim noted.

Rosendo dela Rama, president of the Alliance of Hog Raisers of Negros Occidental, also said: "We're very strict on GMO but if this industry will collapse, we will still buy pigs and chickens from outside that are still GMO-infected.”

Lim added: "We don't need this ordinance. There's a song that could relate to this anti-GMO ordinance and it's entitled ‘Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?’ Why only now?"

De La Rama said the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) even distributes genetically-enhanced pigs and feeds to backyard hog raisers in its animal dispersal program “and these are GMOs. And the testing kit for GMO corn by the province is being held by one person.”

The Provincial Board is now reviewing the ordinance.

Lim said the Department of Agriculture (DA) declared that the ordinance “is against the national policy.”

“DA said there's nothing wrong about the GMO and is willing to come to the province to shed light on the matter…. but upon invitation,” he said.

Lim admitted that they were not in attendance during the conduct of the public hearing with regard the anti-GMO ordinance. "How come they did not know our existence? No notice was given to us in relation to the public hearing. We have not received any notice. If they have the minutes of the public hearing, then we would know who attended.”

“One of the apprehensions is the possible backing out of two major corn integrators from the province because of the total ban on corn,” stressed Manuel Puey, president of the Negros Occidental Poultry Association and former second district representative.

“If that happens, the cost of feeds will certainly increase and we will also expect a sure increase in the cost of chicken in the province,” he added.

Puey cited that 1,700 backyard raisers exist in the province and with the ban, they are adversely affected along with commercial raisers. (GMD)