BACOLOD CITY, June 19 -- Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez, chairperson of the House special committee on creative industries, has committed support for the bid of this highly urbanized city to become a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City of Gastronomy.

"The UNESCO gastronomy bid is not a borrowed dream. It is the oldest, truest thing about Bacolod, finally plated for the world to taste. And we will make it happen," Benitez said in a Facebook post on Friday.

On Thursday night, the Negrense lawmaker, son of Deputy Speaker and Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, joined the city's 88th Charter Day awarding ceremony at the Bacolod City Governm...