UNDERSECRETARY Jesus Hinlo Jr. of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be the keynote speaker during the opening program of this year’s Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival in Bacolod City on November 15.
The five-day event, which will run until November 19, will be hosted by the Province of Negros Occidental at the Negros First Cyber Centre with the theme “Getting Connected Through Regenerative Organic Agriculture.”
Tourism Assistant Secretary Daniel Mercado will also give a message, along with Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Both provinces are one in promoting Negros Island as the “Organic Food Bowl of Asia.”
The event will feature exhibits, displays and sale of organic food and other organic products, lectures on different organic best practices, and innovations.
Winners of the Best Gulayan sa Paaralan, Organic Agriculture Achievers Award, Best Booth, and Exhibitor with Highest Sales will be announced during the closing program.
As of 2015, there are already more than 17,000 organic farmers/practitioners in Negros Occidental, records of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist showed. (PR)