By CESAR JOLITO III
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is open to reconciling figures with Terra Madre Asia and Pacific (TMAP) organizers, following differing reports on how much local organic farmers earned during the major sustainable gastronomy event held last week.
“The figures that I gave you were from OPA [Office of the Provincial Agriculturist] to compare it with the Terra Madre,” Lacson said.
“For as long as the OPA will stand by its data, we will stand by it. But as I said, OPA will compare its data with Terra Madre and let’s see what the story is,” he added.
Lacson issued the statement as TMAP organizers released consolidated reports showing P46.5 million in total event-related sales generated during the five-day festival — a strong contrast to OPA’s earlier claim that organic farmers earned only P185,000 from TMAP-linked purchases.
According to TMAP 2025 Executive Director Reena Gamboa, the inaugural edition of the Asia and Pacific region’s largest sustainable gastronomy event drew 2,500 delegates from 25 countries and an estimated 75,000 visitors, generating P46,586,200 in sales from its major programming.
These figures include revenues from the street food exhibition, restaurant and bar takeovers, taste workshops, slow food travel, and slow drinks, but exclude tourism-related income such as hotel bookings, tourist arrivals and off-site restaurant spending.
The street food exhibition on North Capitol Road was the highest earner, welcoming 50,000 visitors and hosting 107 exhibitors, while events inside the Capitol Lagoon saw another 25,000 in foot traffic.
Organic farmers earned P1.4-M
Ramon “Chin Chin” Uy Jr., TMAP co-chair and Slow Food International Councilor for Southeast Asia, clarified that the concurrently held 18th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival — managed by the OPA — earned P1.4 million from TMAP chefs, mixologists and food communities purchasing their ingredients at the festival.
These ingredients were used across various TMAP activities, from cooking demonstrations to street food and drinks.
Uy said all farmers sold out their produce, and the remaining goods — worth P130,000 — were bought entirely by a Slow Food community member on the last day.
The P1.4-million figure directly contrasts with the earlier P185,000 reported to Lacson.
Organizers also pointed out that farmers were given free seats in public talks and conferences to deepen their understanding of good, clean and fair food.
They said that parts of the event’s meals were donated to indigenous peoples brought in by OPA to ensure they were fed during the festival.
TMAP delegates came from 25 countries, representing the largest sustainable gastronomy gathering of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.
Gamboa said TMAP helped forge stronger relationships among farmers, fisherfolk, cooks, and food producers across the region, while Uy emphasized the event’s role in placing Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and the Philippines on the global gastronomy map.
Earlier, Lacson was disappointed over the minimal gains received by local organic farmers during the first Terra Madre Asia and Pacific.
“It’s disappointing in a sense because we were hoping our organic farmers would benefit more from hosting Terra Madre,” Lacson said.
He said the province had expected the event — aligned with the 18th Negros Island Organic Farmers’ Festival — to significantly boost purchases of raw ingredients from Negros farmers. But the numbers told a different story.
Despite the low sales, Lacson acknowledged that Terra Madre still boosted local tourism, attracting foreign guests and Filipino visitors eager to experience Negros’ food and culture.
The provincial government provided P6 million in support for the hosting, and Terra Madre is slated to return to Negros Occidental in 2027./CJ, WDJ