BACOLOD CITY, Philippines -- The provincial ban on genetically modified (GMO) products could lead to the collapse of the local livestock, poultry and game fowl industries, the provincial veterinarian warned on Wednesday.

Almost 90 percent of the ingredients for poultry and livestock feeds needed in Negros Occidental are imported, and the majority of these are genetically modified, Renante Decena said.

Average feed requirement is 140 metric tons a day, 60 percent or which is corn and the remaining volume is made up of soybeans, wheat, fishmeal vitamins and minerals.

The 91.5 MT of corn is needed for about one million broilers, four million game fowls, half a million layers, 800,000 ducks and geese, and 400,000 pigs, Decena said.

The provincial government recently ordered the shipping out of tons of genetically modified corn in compliance with an ordinance banning GMO products.

But Decena said the the GMO imports were needed because the livestock industry imports all of its soybeans, sorghum and wheat meal, and 90 percent of its corn for feeds.

People involved in the livestock, poultry and game fowl industries will meet today to discuss their feeds shortage problem.

If they will seek a moratorium on the GMO ban, the governor will have to make a decision, Decena said.

Gov. Isidro Zayco said the provincial government is duty-bound to enforce the GMO ban. But he said it would receive the position papers of those aggrieved for consideration. -- Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas