Levelling Up the Sweet History of Panay and Negros Toward World Heritage Inscription

Bacolod City- A two-day Capacity Building Workshop on the UNESCO Tentative Listing of the Sugar Cultural Landscape of the Islands of Panay and Negros is underway on April 21–22, 2026 at the Social Hall of the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol.

Initiated by DOT Region VI in partnership with DOT Negros Island Region, the workshop highlights the shared sugar heritage of Panay and Negros and advances a unified heritage tourism experience across provinces—opening more opportunities for local communities and tourism stakeholders along the circuit.

Bringing together representatives from the public and private sectors, the activity aims to deepen appreciation of our sugar heritage and strengthen local capacity for tourism development, including efforts in heritage conservation, cultural tourism planning, ordinances, zoning policies, and heritage-related agreements.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson graced the opening program and underscored the importance of securing a place on the UNESCO Tentative List—a meaningful step in honoring and showcasing the shared history of Panay and Negros as reflected in their sugar lands, heritage structures, and cultural landscapes.

Day 1 featured insightful presentations on the UNESCO World Heritage process, the Tentative Listing Statement for the Sugar Cultural Landscape of Panay and Negros, the history of the sugar industry in Western Visayas, as well as cultural tourism planning and opportunities for niche tourism products.

An engaging panel discussion and open forum followed, with resource speakers Atty. Mark Evidente, Dr. Ivan Anthony Henares, Prof. Lyn Loarca Mapa, and Mr. Ivan Dy, facilitated by Dr. Laya Boquirren-Gonzales.

The day concluded with a rolling tour sponsored by the City Government of Silay, taking participants through the streets of Bacolod and into the heritage district of Silay, where they visited significant historical sites, ancestral houses, and the German Unson Heritage House, a DOT-accredited Mabuhay Accommodation.

A meaningful step forward in preserving our sweet history and sharing it with the world.

#SugarCulturalLandscape
#LoveThePhilippines
#LoveWesternVisayas
#LoveNegrosIsland