DOT R2, DOST, and Tuguegarao LGU Empower Local Food Champions Through Community-Based Kulinarya Workshop
The Department of Tourism–Region 2 (DOT R2), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Local Government Unit of Tuguegarao City, successfully conducted the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Kulinarya Workshop on July 22–24, 2025, at NGN Gran Hotel.
The three-day workshop is part of the ASPIRE Program (Aim to Train Sustainable Food Producers Initiating Reform and Enhancement), which seeks to strengthen local capacities in community-based culinary tourism through skills training and inter-agency collaboration.
Participants included community cooks, local food producers, and tourism stakeholders from Tuguegarao City. The training covered core modules such as Basic Food Safety, Culinary Mathematics, and Cooking Methodologies. Resource speaker Chef Mark Reynan Sabayan provided technical demonstrations on food safety protocols, use of food thermometers, recipe standardization, and food cost computation.
A key feature of the workshop was the Community Cooking Showcase, where participants prepared three heritage dishes—a soup, main course, and vegetable—representing the region’s culinary identity. Tuguegarao City’s iconic Pancit Batil Patung was among the featured dishes, promoting local flavors as a pillar of cultural tourism.
In her message, DOT R2 Assistant Regional Director Lelia Blancaflor emphasized that the program aims to instill not only culinary skills but also discipline, professionalism, and pride in local food traditions. DOST Cagayan Provincial Director Silvia T. Lacambra echoed the importance of supporting community-based efforts to improve product quality and readiness for tourism markets.
All participants received certificates of completion, reinforcing their role in promoting sustainable and culturally grounded culinary tourism.#
