𝗗𝗢𝗧 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗪𝗚 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆

Bacolod City- The Department of Tourism (DOT) led by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on Thursday (Feb. 27) convened a Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting in preparation for the Philippines’ hosting of Terra Madre Asia Pacific 2025.

The session held at the DOT Central Office in Makati City brought together officials and representatives from Slow Food International, the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), along with delegates from the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, the hosts of this first Philippine edition.

As may be recalled, the DOT led a successful Philippine participation in Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2024 in Turin, Italy, featuring Filipino cuisine from various regions with dishes crafted by renowned local chefs. A key highlight of the participation was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement designating Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, as the official Slow Food Hub for Asia and the Pacific.

The TWG meeting on Terra Madre Asia Pacific 2025 aimed to establish an executive committee and assign specific tasks to the participating government agencies to ensure the smooth preparation and execution of the hosting, slated in November this year.

Under Secretary Frasco’s leadership, the DOT has prioritized food and gastronomy tourism as an integral part of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028.

Building on the Philippines’ succesful participation in the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2024 in, Secretary Frasco called for a united, decisive effort to ensure the success of the country’s upcoming hosting, as the DOT seeks to further strengthen the country’s continued emergence as a gastronomic destination.

“We will really need your full and equivocal support and stamp of support for the Philippines through Slow Food, for us to be able to service this intention that we are emerging as a gastronomy tourism destination, and we are doing so in a manner that is sustainable and respectful of slow food principles,” Secretary Frasco said.

Participants included officials from the Slow Food International—Director General Paolo di Croce, Network Coordinator Elena Aniere, Global South Director Andrea Amato, Councilor for Southeast Asia Ramon Uy, Jr., and Slow Food Community of Negros President Reena Gamboa.

Delegates from Negros Occidental provincial and local officials comprised Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez, Provincial Government of Negros Occidental Public Information Officer Charina Magalanes-Tan, Bacolod City Councilor Jason Villarosa, and Public Information Officer Christine Dinglasan. Representation from National Government Agencies included DA Director of Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Junibert E. De Sagun, along with Marketing Division representatives Ning Carlos and Vivian Doroja; and TESDA Executive Assistant to the Office of Director General Paz Valenciano.

Also in attendance were DOT Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso, Assistant Secretary Czarina Zara-Loyola, Regional Office VI (DOT-6) Director Krisma Rodriguez, Directors Paulo Benito Tugbang and Arlene Alipio, and Head Executive Assistant Frances Jan Villarino.