Legarda revives call to preserve Philippine culinary heritage

Three-term Senator and Senatorial Candidate Loren Legarda (File Photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda urged the government anew to preserve Philippine culinary heritage and promote sustainable food security.

As the country celebrates Filipino Food Month with the theme, “Pagkaing Pilipino, Susi sa Pag-unlad at Pagbabago [Filipino Food, Key to Development and Change],” Legarda stressed that food is an essential part of Filipino identity and culture since it tells the story of the country, and unites Filipino spirits.

“Mahalagang bahagi ng ating pagkakakilanlan at kultura ang ating mga pagkain. Bukod sa isinasalaysay nito ang ating kwento bilang isang bansa, pinag-bubuklod rin nito ang ating diwa bilang mga Pilipino,” She said.

“Dahil sa archipelagic nature ng ating bansa, sadyang magkakaiba ang ating mga pagkaing nakasanayan at ating mga panlasa, at ito ang dapat nating pagyamanin at ipakilala sa ibang rehiyon at ibang bansa,” Legarda added.

The three-term Senator who authored House Bill No. 10551 or the proposed Philippine Culinary Heritage Act reaffirmed that one way to preserve Filipino food heritage is to conduct mapping and documentation of such heritage, a process to further study different foods from different regions that describe the history and culture of a particular region.

“Maraming mga putahe o recipe ang naipasa mula sa mga unang henerasyon ang ngayon ay ine-enjoy pa din ng mga Pilipino, habang ang iba naman ay ginawan ng iba’t-ibang version. Ito ang nararapat na pagyamanin sa tulong na rin ng ating magagaling na research chef at iba pang culinary professional,” Legarda said.

Once enacted, House Bill No. 10551 will require concerned agencies, including the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Tourism, to conduct food heritage mapping and regional culinary identity mapping, and identify and record tangible culinary resources making use of geographic tools.

Loren Legarda

The bill will also establish the Committee on Philippine Gastronomy and Culinary Heritage, which will be responsible for the formulation and promulgation of policies, plans, and programs to ensure the further development, enrichment, propagation, promotion, and preservation of Filipino cuisine, Filipino culinary heritage, heirloom food, and gastronomy.

Moreover, Legarda cited that another way to preserve local food heritage and promote food security is to provide the necessary support for agriculture and fisheries, especially for small farmers and urban gardeners, and promote traditional cooking methods using heirloom ingredients.

“Ipinakita ng COVID-19 pandemic kung gaano ka-vulnerable ang ating mga food supply chain, at kung paano sa isang iglap ay maaaring malagay sa alanganin ang food at nutritional safety ng milyun-milyon nating mga kababayan,” She said.

“Kung susuportahan natin ang ating mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda, magkakaroon tayo ng matibay na pundasyon at solusyon para sa ating problema sa food security at sustainability ng ating mga food sources. This will enable us to have a sustainable and resilient food system, which can also help preserve our culinary heritage,” Legarda added.

Legarda, a backyard farmer herself, is a co-author of the Organic Agriculture Act under RA 10068, which provides for the establishment of the National Organic Agricultural Program and its amended version under RA 11511, which recognizes Participatory Guarantee Systems as a credible and affordable way to certify organic produce; the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act, which requires banks to allocate 25 percent of their loanable funds to the agriculture sector; and, the Rural Farm Schools Act, which provides for the establishment of Rural Farm Schools.

She is also a co-sponsor of the Philippine Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Act, which strengthens the practice of agricultural engineering in the country by having such practices align with internationally-recognized agricultural and biosystems engineering practices.

The Antique lone district representative also initiated the allocation of more funds for agricultural programs in the province, including the National Rice Program, the National Livestock Program, the National Corn Program, and the High-Value Crops Development Program, and funding support for programs of institutions such as the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, the National Dairy Authority, and the Philippine Carabao Center, among others.

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