CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – Bulacan is expanding its tourism portfolio with the promotion of farm tourism and locally brewed beverages as part of the extended celebration of the Filipino Food Month.
Spearheaded by the Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (PHACTO), in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), this initiative highlights the province’s potential as an emerging site for agri-tourism and gastronomy.
PHACTO Officer-in-Charge May Arlene Torres said that Bulacan is already successful in developing tourism products in the fields of history, arts and culture. This time, the province farm tourism sites are in its packages.
“Developing the farm tourism sites will not just attract more tourists, but will also boost food security and ensure the quality supply of rice, vegetables, fruits, livestock, poultry and fisheries that are essential in preparing dishes related to gastronomy tourism,” she added.
DOT Regional Director Richard Daenos, who led the opening of the exhibit of fresh harvest and catch by the farm tourism sites, said that farm tourism is all about demonstrating the history of food from farm to table.
“Delicacies tell their own stories. When people taste them, they learn the cultural history behind them. That is why it is important to pass down traditional methods of food preparation,” he said.
According to PHACTO, six farm tourism sites in Bulacan are already accredited by the DOT as mandated by Republic Act 10816 or the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016.
Farm tourism is a practice of attracting visitors to a farm that involves agricultural and fishery-based activities.
As part of strengthening farm tourism, PHACTO organized a province-wide contest for schools to create new Bulacan blend beverages using ingredients sourced from local farms.
Bulacan Polytechnic College won first place with their ube palapat rice latte. Meanwhile, National University (NU)- Baliwag Campus placed second with their tanglad palamig. STI-Balagtas’ cisco balta sour took third place, and Centro Escolar University-Malolos came in fourth place with their velvet lustre.
Daenos said these innovative drinks, along with the farm tourism concept, may be featured in the upcoming National Food Hub, to be built in front of the Clark International Airport Terminal 2 in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
The 62-hectare hub aims to develop more efficient food supply chain that will help food processors, farmers, fisherfolks in the aspect of distribution, storage, food processing and marketing.
It is a joint undertaking by the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). DOT’s Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) also pledge to contribute to the completion of the project. (MJSC/SFV,PIA Region 3-Bulacan)