Pineda urges calm after veto of Pampanga's culinary capital title

City of San Fernando, Pampanga — Governor Dennis "Delta" Pineda on Saturday urged Kapampangans to stay calm after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed the bill that sought to declare Pampanga the Culinary Capital of the Philippines.

In a statement, Pineda expressed his own disappointment over the veto but asked his constituents to respect the President’s decision.

"Ang katawagang ito ay hindi tayo ang gumawa. Tinawag tayong culinary capital dahil masarap ang luto nating mga Kapampangan. Ito ay ating minana (This title was not given by us. We are called the culinary capital because of the delicious food we, Kapampangans, cook. It is a heritage passed down to us)," Pineda said.

Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro explained that naming a single region as "the most" in terms of food could lead to discrimination against other regions. Pineda reiterated that the bill aimed to recognize Pampanga’s culinary heritage, not to cause division.

"Hangad po ng bill na kilalanin ang mayamang pamana ng Pampanga sa pagluluto, hindi upang magdulot ng pagkakawatak-watak. Kinikilala namin ang kahusayan ng iba’t ibang rehiyon sa kanilang lutuin (The bill aims to recognize Pampanga’s rich culinary heritage, not to cause division. We also recognize the excellence of other regions in their cooking)," Pineda said.

The governor emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to promote Filipino cuisine globally and stressed that Pampanga’s support is part of a broader initiative to elevate the standard of Filipino gastronomy.

"We are open for collaboration to boost the promotion of the country's gastronomy, since we believe that food unites us all, and should not create discrimination," he added.

Pineda also expressed gratitude to President Marcos for his continued support, including backing the construction of the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center in the Clark Freeport Zone, which will feature specialized centers for heart, kidney, cancer, and pediatric care.