PAMPANGA is about to officially become the cookery center of the country as Congress passed on second reading a bill declaring it the “Culinary Capital of the Philippines.”
At this point, authors of House Bill 10634, namely, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr, fellow Kapampangans, Reps. Anna York Bondoc, Carmelo Lazatin II, and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, already anticipate the measure’s possible enactment into law.
Arroyo said recognizing the rich culinary heritage of Pampanga will open doors for increased tourism, leading to more job opportunities and economic growth in their local communities.
“Pampanga as a culinary capital will boost the country’s culinary tourism industry, which in turn will provide livelihood to many Kapampangans,” she said.
House Committee on Tourism chairman and Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona supported the bill, highlighting Pampanga’s rich gastronomic heritage.
“While Pampanga’s culinary history stretches back as far as a century, its embodiment of the rich culinary culture worthy of global recognition and even emulation remains undisputed until today,” he said.
The bill’s authors pointed out that Pampanga was the first Spanish province in Luzon, citing the name La Pampanga given to it by the Spaniards when they first encountered locals along the banks or “pampang” of the Pampanga River.
“Today, Pampanga is known as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines because most of the best Filipino cuisines are from here,” the proponents said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline House OKs on 2nd reading bill declaring Pampanga as ‘culinary capital’
