Background
Background
Embedded Files
In April of 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Presidential Proclamation No. 469, declaring April of every year as the "Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino" or Filipino Food Month.
Under the Proclamation, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) are mandated to lead the celebration. Furthermore, the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement (PCHM) advocated and lobbied for the signing of the proclamation to declare the month of April as the FFM, and the Department of Tourism (DOT) shall coordinate and work closely with the NCCA and DA in the implementation of its respective programs and projects. Under the said proclamation, the DA, the NCCA, the DOT, and PCHM mutually entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last Sept 8, 2021.
Filipino Food Month aims to make sure that our country’s culinary tradition and treasures are “appreciated, preserved, and promoted to ensure their transmission to future generations and to support the various industries, farmers, and agri-communities” benefitting from it.
Photo courtesy of DA Communications Group
What we've done
What we've done
Now on its 6th year, Filipino Food Month (Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino) has been an annual platform to campaign for the appreciation and preservation of Filipino culinary heritage. From the start, it sparked important conversations among chefs, restaurateurs, food producers and scholars; and supported communities with an interest in Filipino food.
Reeling from the effects of the pandemic and other natural forms of calamity, Filipino Food Month is especially relevant as Filipinos face concerns about food security and the livelihood of farmers, fishermen and other food producers.
Filipino Food Month Memorandum of Understanding 2021
Filipino Food Month Memorandum of Understanding 2021
Virtual ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Filipino Food Month last September 8, 2021 L-R: PCHM President Chef Jam Melchor, PCHM Board of Trustee Clark Jantzen Lim, Former Agriculture Undersecretary Evelyn Lavinia, Former Agriculture Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista, Former NCCA Executive Director Al Ryan Alejandre, Former NCCA Chairman Arsenio Lizaso, Former Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, and Tourism OIC-Undersecretary Verna Covar-Buensuceso
To further enhance the preservation and promotion of Filipino food culture along with the country’s unique food tourism experiences, the Department of Agriculture (DA), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Department of Tourism (DOT), together with the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement (PCHM) on Wednesday (September 8, 2021) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a framework of cooperation and collaboration, as well as officially infuse the food tourism dimension in the celebration of the Filipino Food Month every April.
Signed between Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, Agriculture Secretary William Dar represented by Undersecretaries Evelyn Lavinia and Kristine Evangelista, NCCA Chairman Arsenio Lizaso, and PCHM President Chef Jam Melchor, the MOU endeavors to drive up appreciation, preservation, and promotion of Filipino culinary traditions to ensure transmission to future generations and to support food tourism stakeholders such as farmers and agri-communities.
A DA-NCCA-DOT-PCHM Technical Working Group (TWG) shall be formed and will conduct quarterly meetings to ensure the smooth implementation of the activities and responsibilities enclosed in the MOU. The MOU states that the mentioned agencies will spearhead the planning and implementation of programs and activities during Filipino Food Month. “The signing of this memorandum marks yet another milestone for the longstanding partnership between NCCA, DA, DOT, and PCHM. I have no doubt that the strong bond created today will create synergies for our agencies and, more importantly, for the furtherance and development of the celebration of the Filipino Food Month,” said NCCA executive director Al Ryan S. Alejandre.
With the collaboration among the various government and private organizations, Filipino Food Month will have a wider audience in the country, create new activities that both inform and engage, as well as promote the various industries that it spans. Aside from putting the spotlight on Filipino food, the month-long celebration also promotes the various industries that food is involved in such as agriculture and tourism. The event also highlights the areas where the specific dishes come from, the farmers and producers who make food accessible, and the history of food and how it became a part of Filipino culture.
Through Filipino Food Month, more Filipinos will be able to appreciate local cuisine and how it links us together through time.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse