ILOILO CITY – The province of Iloilo is set to host the National Vegetable Congress for the first time in November.
The Panay Organization for Progressive Agriculture (POPA) Agriculture Cooperative and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are preparing to accommodate around 1,500 delegates in Barotac Nuevo town from Nov. 5 to 7.
PREPARATIONS are underway for the 2025 National Vegetable Congress in Iloilo. (Tara Yap)
The three-day gathering has the theme “Innovative. Resilient. Sustainable. Market Ready: Revitalizing the Vegetable Industry for a Food Secure Bagong Pilipinas.”
“This Congress is about empowering farmers, introducing scalable technologies, and opening space for real policy dialogue,” said POPA Agriculture Cooperative Chairperson Larry Nacionales.
The congress can help address issues and concerns while supporting sustainable and inclusive growth in the vegetable value chain.
POPA Vice Chairperson Dr. Rose Marie Conlu said the national congress can spotlight Iloilo and Western Visayas region as a rising food hub.
DA-6 Regional Technical Director for Operations Maria Teresa Solis said DA is backing the congress as part of their commitment to sustain food security.
Another key event of the congress will be the inauguration of the Regional Food Terminal in New Lucena town.
“This facility is designed to enhance food distribution and logistics in the region, further positioning Iloilo as a cornerstone of agricultural progress in the Philippines,” said Buen “Bokbok” Mondejar, chairperson of the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council-6.