This highly urbanized city is receiving full support from the Department of Tourism (DOT) as it prepares to host the first-ever Terra Madre Salone del Gusto Asia and the Pacific in November next year.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco joined Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, together with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, and Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, in officially announcing the city’s hosting of the event as part of the 2024 Terra Madre Visayas at the Provincial Capitol’s Negros Residences here Thursday afternoon.

“All the support, from financial to moral to everything they can do for tourism, they will give to Bacolod. They want to position the Philippines as a food tourism hub,” the mayor said.

Terra Madre is considered “the largest event dedicated to food politics, sustainable agriculture, and the environment.”

Slow Food International for Southeast Asia councilor Ramon Uy Jr. and Slow Food Community Negros president Doreen Alicia Gamboa invited Frasco to today’s event during their meeting with Slow Food International director general Paulo di Croce at the DOT office in Makati City last month.

Frasco reaffirmed the DOT’s commitment to work closely with Slow Food International and its stakeholders to ensure the successful hosting of Terra Madre Asia and the Pacific.

It will further promote the Philippines “not just on the deliciousness of its food and the variety and diversity of what we have to offer, but also in terms of the principles and values by which we pursue our food,” she added.

The Bacolod mayor signed a memorandum of agreement with Slow Food International for the staging of next year’s event during the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto held in Turin, Italy, last September.

Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, said the official launch of this city’s hosting is “one of the inspiring times for the slow food advocates and practitioners in Negros Island and Bacolod City.”

“Slow Food is taking Bacolod and Negros at the center stage. In Negros, we welcome the idea of bringing major slow food-related events practiced in other countries to the Philippines to remind and continuously educate our people about the importance and benefits of practicing slow food,” he added. (PNA)