DOT Region 2 Conducts Street Food Tourism Kulinarya Workshop for Isabela Vendors
The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 2 successfully conducted the Street Food Tourism Kulinarya Workshop, a two-day capacity-building program for street food vendors from the Province of Isabela, held on June 23–24, 2026 at the ICONIC Hotel, Cauayan City.
The workshop gathered 27 participants and forms part of DOT’s broader Street Food Tourism Kulinarya Program, which aims to improve the quality, safety, and marketability of traditional Filipino street food while helping vendors enhance their livelihoods and contribute to culinary tourism development in the region.
DOT Region 2 Regional Director Troy Alexander G. Miano emphasized the importance of empowering local food vendors as partners in tourism development, noting that street food reflects the identity, creativity, and culture of a community. Meanwhile, Ms. Joanne Dy. Maranan, Provincial Tourism Officer, expressed her support for initiatives that strengthen the capacities of local vendors and promote Isabela’s unique food heritage. Both officials underscored the value of equipping vendors with the skills and knowledge needed to elevate local street food into a safer, more sustainable, and tourism-ready product.
The training followed a structured program of activities that combined lectures, demonstrations, and practical learning sessions. Participants were introduced to the DOT Tourism Kulinarya Program, Filipino street food heritage and identity, and safe and sustainable street food operations, followed by sessions on culinary nutrition, green chefmanship basics, and community pride and cleanliness as a tourism asset. The workshop shifted to hands-on and experiential learning through cooking demonstrations, designing the street food experience, basic costing and pricing, visitor care, and sustainability, as well as sessions on storytelling for vendors, story presentation, and stall improvement planning. Led by Chef Belman O. Millan Jr., the workshop concluded with a closing ceremony, participant feedback, and the awarding of certificates, reaffirming DOT Region 2’s commitment to promoting Isabela’s culinary heritage and strengthening local street food as a valuable tourism asset.#