In line with the month-long celebration of Filipino Food Month and the Ang Sarap! Philippine Food Festival, the Department of Agriculture, through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS), hosted the 2024 Food Talks on April 27, 2024, at One Ayala Mall in Makati City.

With the theme “Preserving Philippine Culinary and Food Heritage,” the event seeks to celebrate and promote traditional and indigenous foods and raw materials in the Philippines.

“Kailangan ibalik at huwag kalimutan ang tradisyonal na pagkain,” said DA-AMAS Director Junibert E. De Sagun.

The 2024 Food Talks featured processors and producers of traditional cuisine, such as Kiniing of the Cordillerans, Adlai of Cotabato, and Pangasi of Zamboanga.

The event also served as venue for sharing of innovative approaches to traditional cooking, sustainable practices to preserve products, and initiatives that will empower local communities and indigenous peoples.

Apart from mall-goers, the event was attended by students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Centro Escolar University.### (Kristel Joyce Merle, DA-AFID)