• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is making a bid to host the 2027 Organic World Congress (OWC), Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed yesterday.
Lacson and Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez yesterday held an organizational meeting and consultation for the OWC hosting bid at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, which also attended by IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements) Asia executive director Jennifer Chang and NISARD/IFOAM Vice President Edgardo Uychiat, among others.
Lacson said the Technical Working Group meeting was aimed at preparing for the bid to host the OWC on December this year.
“We would like to introduce ourselves to the world. One way to do that is to host the Organic World Congress,” said the governor in a press briefing.
Countries from Europe and Asia are expected to attend the 2027 Organic World Congress, Lacson said.
The 21st IFOAM Organic World Congress (OWC) will be held in Taiwan from December 2 to 4 this year.
Asked on the strength of the province to host the 2027 OWC, Lacson said “it is the movement itself in Negros Island,” which has 18,000 farmers into it (organic farming), in Negros Occidental alone.
He also pointed out that that the organic movement in the country started in Negros Occidental.
The provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are dubbed the Organic Food Bowl of Asia. Every year, the Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival is marked, showcasing the Island’s best organic offerings, including farm produce, products, and merchandise, among others.*
