Manila, Sept. 3 -- Officials of Negros Occidental's provincial government defended the proposed ordinance allowing the entry and development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the province, following opposition from various sectors allied with the organic agriculture movement.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said in an interview on Wednesday that the personalities listed as signatories in the "Declaration against GMO Testing in Negros Occidental" have engagements with the province.

"These are people who work with us and have been benefiting from the support of the provincial government, and I think we deserve to be treated fairly before condemning us," he added.

Diaz said he thinks the reaction of the group is prema...