FOOD INNOVATION. Department of Tourism Regional Office 6 personnel Ray Tabafunda on Wednesday (June 26, 2019) encourages the youth, housewives and other food processors to innovate local food products to be served to tourists. He said tourists usually look forward to experiencing the food from the places they visit. (PNA Photo by Annabel J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) here is encouraging the youth, housewives, residents and other providers to serve Antique's distinctive food products to tourists.
DOT Officer I Ray Tabafunda said on Wednesday that tourists visiting Antique will usually look forward to tasting the unique, locally-produced food of the province.
“Eating locally-produced food is a part of tourism experience,” said Tabafunda, who read DOT Regional Director Helen Catalbas' message during the launching here of the Department of Trade and Industry's Competition for Innovation III which is now on its third year.
He said tourists usually spend one-third of their budget on food. “Last year, there were 108,220 tourist arrivals in Antique and generated receipts of PHP2, 063,804,193 for the tourism sector,” he said.
Tabafunda said the competition is intended to encourage participants to innovate different food products utilizing the indigenous materials, particularly local fruits, muscovado sugar, and nuts, which are abundant in the province.
Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Arlene Galopo said the competition aims to increase the income of planters and processors, create new or develop existing products, support the micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs serviced by the Shared Service Facilities of the DTI, and advocate green economic development such as using residual packaging materials.
“Those who would like to join in the competition are given from July to September to do their Research and Development for their entries,” she said.
The entries will be submitted to the DTI Antique provincial office for the municipal level judging in the second week of September, and at the provincial level in the third week of September.
Prizes are PHP5,000 for first place, PHP3,000 for second place, and PHP2,000 for third place. (PNA)
