• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The campaign is now on for voting delegates to choose Negros Occidental in the Philippines to host the 2027 Organic World Congress (OWC), Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed on Tuesday.
Lacson, along with Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, led the opening ceremony of 17th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival and 2nd Terra Madre Visayas at the Capitol grounds and North Capitol Road in Bacolod City, yesterday. He said that Jennifer Chang, IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) Asia, and Ramon Uy Jr., Slow Food International Councilor for Southeast Asia, 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, with the winner to be announced during the 21st OWC in Taiwan, from December 2 to 6 this year.
The province of Negros Occidental is the first and only province with an Anti-GMO 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 Organic World Congress in 2027, said Benitez.
The OWC is dubbed as one of the biggest international events for sustainable farming and organic agriculture, attended by experts and advocates of organic agriculture all over the world.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, president of the Negros ACE (Association of Chief Executives), who also attended the activity at the Negros Residences, said that 16 mayors are attending the OWC in Taiwan, to support the provincial government 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 of the 17th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival and 2nd Terra Madre Visayas at Negros Residences in Bacolod City, Lacson disclosed that the organic farming and the Slow Food movement (Terra Madre) 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.
On the other hand, the Slow Food movement, with its emphasis on clean and fair food, aligns well with our 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.
By coming together, we strengthen our resolve for sustainable and fair agriculture and the protection of our environment. Negros Occidental, together with Negros Oriental has long been at the forefront of organic farming in the Philippines, he added.
With years of promoting sustainable agriculture and food security, with a deep respect for our land and compassion for our people and farmers, Lacson said “this commitment has earned us the National Award for Top Performing Organic Agriculture Province.”
While Negros Island is in a good position to lead the way, the governor, however, emphasized the urgency of restoring devastated ecosystems and conserving those that remain intact. We are in an extraordinary time which demands extraordinary measures, he stressed.
The activity was also attended by Elizabeth de Leon, Interior and Local Government Asst. Secretary for Community Participation; Bernadette San Juan, director of the National Organic Agriculture Program; and Dennis Arpia, Agriculture regional director for Western Visayas, among others.*
