• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has sought an inquiry into the Slow Food movement in Negros Occidental to assess its potential contribution to promoting sustainable development in the Visayas region.
In House Resolution No. 462, Benitez urged the Committee on Visayas Development to spearhead the inquiry.
Noting that Slow Food is a global grassroots movement that promotes good, clean and fair food by emphasizing local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients, preserving agricultural biodiversity, supporting small-scale producers, and advocating for ethical farming practices, Benitez said it has gained traction globally as a countermeasure to the negative impacts of fast food culture and industrial agriculture.
In the Philippines, the lawmaker said the Slow Food Negros has strengthened the movement in the Negros Island Region through the Negros Island Slow Food Earth Market, which promotes locally produced, sustainable, and culturally rooted food products.
Benitez added that Bacolod City is also emerging as a major Slow Food hub in Asia, as it hosted the Terra Madre Asia and Pacific 2025, one of the movement’s largest regional gatherings.
He emphasized that the principles of the Slow Food movement align with national sustainability goals, including environmental protection, local economic growth, and cultural heritage preservation.
Understanding how the movement operates in Negros Occidental, may offer valuable insights for advancing food security, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic development across the Visayas, Benitez said.
The resolution also mandated the Committee on Visayas Development to examine the merits of the movement, explore its applicability in the region, and identify mechanisms through which national and local governments can support its initiatives. | GB
