Iloilo to host 5th Farm Tourism Conference and Festival

Farm tourism stakeholders from the different parts of the country will gather here for the 5th Farm Tourism Conference and Festival on October 2-4 at the Grand Xing Imperial Hotel. On-site registration is encouraged. Registration fee are as follows: P6,000.00 (Regular rate), P4,500.00 (Government rate) and  P3,600.00 (Student rate).


Bearing the theme “Improving Farm Tourism through Enrichment of Local Products and Culture”, the said confab will be graced by Tourism Undersecretary Silvino Tejada and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona as guests of honors and keynote speakers.

International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) president and event director Mina Gabor noted that this year’s farm tourism conference will highlight coffee, the world’s second most traded commodity. Topics related to coffee include the 7 Steps in coffee planting by Philippine Coffee Board Director Dr. Andy Mojica, coffee cloning and demonstration by Albert Tabanggay of Pavia Orchard Valley, coffee roasting by La Roasteria proprietor Bodi Mijares, and coffee trade by Biscocho Haus owner Genevieve Bionat.

Coffee experts Kumalah Elardo and Steep Coffee Bags CEO Justin Bereber will discuss about the topics Sulu Royal Coffee and Coffee Bag.

Other speakers include International Institute of Rural Reconstruction country director Emilyn Monville Oro who will discuss the topic “Climate Change and Agriculture”; Winaca Eco-Cultural Village’s Lucia Catanes who will tackle “Preserving Natural and Cultural Heritage”; “Dragonfruit Lady” Edith Dacuycuy who will give a talk on “Product Innovation”; and Food and Agriculture Organization Philippine Representative Jose Luis Fernandez who will speak about “Food Security”.

Moreover, the three-day conference will also have SIBAT Deputy Director Shen Maglinte, Perfect Mushroom founder John Regie Jimanal and MNL Growkits CEO Arsenio Sumaong.

Local farm tourism stakeholders Paolo Lorenzo Tirador of Damires Hills Tierra Verde and Jonathan Canuto of the Ephratah Farmers Union will share their stories about the topics “Opportunities in Farm Tourism” and “Marketing and Trading”, respectively.

International speakers Pandurag Taware who is considered as India’s father of agri-tourism and Jemy See, managing director of Taiwan’s Global Travel Management and Consultancy will share the best practices in their countries in farm tourism.

DOT-VI regional director Helen Catalbas previously said that the region which is mainly composed of agricultural lands has a lot of potential farms that can be developed into tourist attractions.

“It has been strengthened through Republic Act 10816 or the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016, which recognizes the importance of agriculture and tourism in the economic and cultural development of the country”, she added.

Aside from the talks, the confab will be also highlighted with a Farmer’s Market which will showcase fresh and locally-grown agricultural produce.

The participants will also visit farms in Iloilo such as Damires Hills, Ephrathah Farm Resort, Garin Farm and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC).

The 5th Farm Tourism Conference and Festival is organized by the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Province of Iloilo, City of Iloilo, and the Department of Agriculture.