• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The campaign is on for voting delegates to choose Negros Occidental in the Philippines to host the 2027 Organic World Congress (OWC), Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
Lacson, along with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, led the opening ceremony of the 17th Negros Island Organic Farmers’ Festival and 2nd Terra Madre Visayas at the Capitol grounds and North Capitol Road in Bacolod City on Tuesday (Nov. 19).
He noted that Jennifer Chang, executive director of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Asia, and Ramon Uy Jr., councilor for Southeast Asia of Slow Food International, feel that “we have a good chance of hosting the OWC in 2027.”
Negros Occidental in the Philippines and Brisbane in Australia are vying for the hosting, the winner of which will be announced during the 21st OWC in Taiwan this coming Dec. 2 to 6.
Negros Occidental is the first and only province with an Anti-Genetically Modified Organism legislation in the Philippines, and the home to the longest standing annual organic farmers’ festival, according to IFOAM.
“Bacolod stands firmly behind our local organic farmers in the city and the province as Negros Occidental bids to host the prestigious OWC in 2027,” Benitez said.
The OWC is dubbed as one of the biggest international events for sustainable farming and organic agriculture, which is being attended by experts and advocates of organic agriculture from all over the world.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, said that 16 mayors are attending the OWC in Taiwan to support the provincial government’s effort to host the international event in Bacolod City.
“By hosting the IFOAM Organic World Congress, we can showcase our achievements, share our knowledge, and learn from others who are equally passionate about organic farming, inspire others and encourage the adoption of organic practices worldwide,” Lacson said.
In his speech during the opening program, the governor said that the organic farming and the Slow Food movement hold immense significance, as natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate.
“These initiatives not only promote sustainable agricultural practices but also champion the preservation of biodiversity and the health of our communities,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Slow Food movement, with its emphasis on clean and fair food, aligns well with the province’s shared vision of a sustainable and equitable future for all.
“And since Terra Madre is a movement of change through cooperation, dialogue, sharing, responsibility, and food education, it is my earnest hope that through this event, we can foster stronger partnerships among stakeholders who share the same passion for sustainable practices,” Lacson said.
He added: “Negros Occidental, together with Negros Oriental, has long been at the forefront of organic farming in the Philippines.”
“With years of promoting sustainable agriculture and food security, with a deep respect for our land and compassion for our people and farmers, this commitment has earned us the national award for Top Performing Organic Agriculture Province,” the governor said. | GB
