Bacolod City to Highlight Local Cuisine in DOT’s Philippine Experience Program

Bacolod City, Philippines – Bacolod City is set to showcase its local culinary specialties during the launch of The Philippine Experience: Culture, Heritage, and Arts Program (PEP) by the Department of Tourism (DOT). The event, scheduled for November 29 with DOT Secretary Christina Frasco, aims to promote the city’s diverse food offerings.

According to Philippines News Agency, chairman of the committee on tourism at the City Council, plans for the event were finalized in a meeting led by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez. The city will not only focus on its renowned chicken inasal but also expand its food tourism to include a variety of Filipino dishes, especially those originating from Western Visayas. These offerings will encompass appetizers, soups, main courses, and desserts. The PEP launch will feature a showcase of these local delicacies at Bantug Lake Ranch in Barangay Alangilan, as well as an event at the Government Center.

Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are part of the initial leg of the PEP in Western Visayas, running from November 29 to December 31. The PEP, with its four themes – Hain/Salo-Salo, Kalinaw, Paman, and Likha – is a new cultural tourism product developed by the DOT to promote the Filipino brand and identity in travel experiences.

Mayor Benitez highlighted the significance of local cuisine as a major attraction for the city, emphasizing the lasting impression it leaves on visitors. He plans to further develop food tourism, particularly through the MassKanamit Culinary Showdown, which had its first edition in October this year. The mayor expressed his desire to enhance and expand this food event during the next MassKara Festival, aiming to center Bacolod’s tourism appeal more significantly on its culinary offerings.