Tourism officer apologizes for NCCA citation mix-up

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Atty. Caesar Distrito, spokesman for Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, said Chief Tourism Operations Officer Tere Manalili has apologized for the “mix-up” that led to the misdeclaration of cultural property rights over Bacolod Chicken Inasal.

Distrito, in a press statement over the weekend, said Manalili “conveyed her sincerest apology if her delivery of wordings to share the information during the opening of our Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival may have inadvertently caused a mix-up.”

Manalili has formally relayed this to the NCCA Focal Person as well, Distrito said.

He stressed that this was to address a clarification on the Certificate of Compliance from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Philippine Registry of Heritage, received by the Bacolod City Tourism Office on May 23, 2024.

He pointed out that the Certificate of Compliance refers to the registration of the Local Cultural Property of Bacolod City, which is Chicken Inasal, under the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property. This is the first step prior to the granting of such recognition/declaration.

“The city was celebrating our Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival when Chief Tourism Operations Officer Ma. Teresa Manalili shared the welcoming news and development about our cultural property during the program in the presence of city officials and guests, including Mayor Albee Benitez,” Distrito said.

He added that it was very timely that the NCCA sent the notice via email.

Distrito also pointed out that Manalili’s intention was purely to share the news, which is a significant and meaningful step in preserving the cultural heritage of our beloved iconic food, Bacolod Chicken Inasal.

Her sharing was to acknowledge our efforts in cultural preservation, he further said.

“The news then came out regarding the declaration, and the NCCA then clarified to her that there was a misunderstanding,” Distrito said.

Upon the request of the NCCA, she then made the necessary correction of the statement that appeared in several newspapers to specify that the Certificate of Compliance is for the registration of the cultural property issued by the Philippine Registry of Heritage and not yet a recognition/declaration from the NCCA, he added.