BACOLOD City — Following Bacolod City’s hosting of the Terra Madre Asia and Pacific 2025 (TMAP 2025) from November 19 to 23 at the Provincial Capitol Road, Congress has approved an inquiry into the slow food movement in Negros Occidental.
The TMAP 2025 event coincided with the provincial government’s celebration of this year’s Farmers Organic Festival, which aimed to support and empower small-scale farmers by providing a platform to market their products, connect with chefs and consumers, and gain recognition.
Bacolod Lone District Congressman Alfredo Abelardo Benitez described the slow food movement as a global grassroots initiative promoting “good, clean, and fair” food. The movement emphasizes local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients, preserves agricultural biodiversity, supports small-scale producers, and advocates ethical farming practices.
Prior to the TMAP, the House of Representatives approved a resolution authored by Cong. Benitez directing the Committee on Visayas Development to conduct an inquiry into the slow food movement in Negros Occidental and assess its potential contributions to sustainable development in the Visayas Region.
While no final schedule has been set, Benitez said the hearings are expected to take place when Congress resumes in January.
The Slow Food Movement has gained momentum globally as a countermeasure to the negative impacts of fast food culture and industrial agriculture. In the Negros Island Region, the movement is championed by the Slow Food Negros Organization, which organizes the Negros Island Slow Food Earth Market—a community-based platform promoting locally produced, sustainable, and culturally rooted food products.
Bacolod City is emerging as a major Slow Food hub in Asia, highlighted by its hosting of TMAP 2025, Benitez added. He noted that the principles of the movement align with sustainable development goals by encouraging environmentally sound practices, strengthening local economies, and preserving cultural heritage.
Benitez emphasized that understanding the potential of the slow food movement in Negros Occidental could provide valuable insights and policy recommendations for enhancing food security, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth across the Visayas Region.
He called on the Committee on Visayas Development to examine the merits of the movement, evaluate its applicability, and explore mechanisms through which national and local governments can provide support to further its growth./PN
