This city will highlight the best of its local cuisine during the launch of The Philippine Experience: Culture, Heritage, and Arts Program (PEP) of the Department of Tourism (DOT) here with Secretary Christina Frasco on Nov. 29.
Councilor Jason Villarosa, chairman of the committee on tourism at the City Council, said in an interview on Tuesday that Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez led the meeting to finalize the plans for the event.
“We will showcase our local delicacies. This is one of the plans of our mayor, after the successful staging of MassKanamit during the MassKara Festival, to do it on a bigger scale. We are not just concentrating on chicken inasal. We are expanding our food tourism,” he added.
Aside from the famous chicken inasal, local restaurants also offer versions of Filipino dishes, particularly those originating in Western Visayas, including appetizers, soups, main courses, and desserts.
During the PEP launch in the city, Frasco will grace the showcase of local delicacies at Bantug Lake Ranch in Barangay Alangilan and another event at the Government Center.
Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are part of the launch of the initial leg of the PEP in Western Visayas on Nov. 29 to Dec. 31.
The PEP, which covers four themes – Hain/Salo-Salo, Kalinaw, Paman, and Likha – is the newest cultural tourism product conceived by the DOT to highlight and herald the Filipino Brand and identity in all aspects of the travel experience.
Benitez said that among the major attractions of the city has always been the local cuisine.
“One of the things visitors talk about when they come here is the food. They always remember our food, and that’s the reason why we should develop our food tourism,” he added.
The mayor said he would also push for a bigger food event during the MassKara Festival through the MassKanamit Culinary Showdown, which held its maiden edition in October this year.
“I think there’s much room for improvement for MassKanamit. We will come up with a grander, more exciting (food festival) next year. We will make sure that the heart of Bacolod’s tourism attraction would be centered on food,” he added. (PNA)
