CONFLICTING DATA: Gov. Lacson questions Terra Madre over farmer sales data

By Dolly Yasa

Is Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson’s criticism of Terra Madre Asia & Pacific 2025 rooted in fact — or are the figures telling two different stories?

Conflicting data on how much Negros Island organic farmers earned during the five-day Terra Madre event has sparked a public dispute between the provincial government and event organizers, prompting calls for reconciliation of the numbers.

Lacson said Thursday he received a text message from Bacolod City Rep. and Terra Madre Co-Chair Albee Benitez urging both sides to “compare notes” following sharply divergent claims on the economic benefit for local farmers.

“The figures I gave you were from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA). Let them compare, for as long as the OPA will stand by its data, we will stand by it,” Lacson said. “OPA will compare its data with Terra Madre and let’s see what the story is.”

According to Lacson, only PHP 185,000 — or 6.5 percent — of the PHP 2.8 million total sales recorded during the Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival came from Terra Madre-related purchases.

He noted that daily sales figures from Terra Madre were low during the first four days of the event: PHP 10,000 on Day 1, PHP 13,000 on Day 2, PHP 14,000 on Day 3, and PHP 14,000 on Day 4. It was only on the final day that sales surged to PHP 135,000, which he attributed to repeated prodding by the OPA.

“Why was it not happening on a daily basis? It is disappointing because we were hoping our organic farmers would really benefit from the hosting of Terra Madre,” Lacson said.

“That is precisely why we placed them together — we wanted our farmers to benefit. But it did not happen,” he added, emphasizing that the provincial government spent PHP 6 million to support the event.

However, Terra Madre organizers presented a far more optimistic assessment of the event’s outcomes.

TMAP Executive Director Reena Gamboa described the international gastronomy gathering as an “overwhelming success,” noting it attracted 2,500 delegates from 25 countries and 75,000 visitors.

Gamboa said the event generated PHP 46.5 million in sales through various activities, including the Street Food Exhibition, restaurant takeovers, taste workshops, and Slow Drinks. She clarified that these figures only reflect event-specific sales and do not include additional economic benefits from tourism, hotels, or restaurants.

TMAP Co-Chair Ramon “ChinChin” Uy Jr. pushed back on the province’s sales figures, asserting that participating chefs, mixologists, and Slow Food communities bought PHP 1.4 million worth of organic produce from festival participants — nearly eight times the provincial estimate.

“The synergy ensured farmers and fisherfolk sold out their produce,” Uy said.

He also revealed that remaining unsold stock valued at PHP 130,000 was purchased by a Slow Food community member on the festival’s last day.

Organizers emphasized their broader support for organic producers, which included free meals and access to public talks for Indigenous Peoples brought in by the OPA.

The growing data divide now places the spotlight on both parties to align their methodologies and reconcile their figures — or risk undermining the credibility of a high-profile event aimed at empowering local agriculture.