SEN. Nancy Binay urged local executives to help boost Philippine tourism by raising the quality of street food to attract local and foreign tourists.

In a statement on Sunday, Binay said Filipino food can be used as a "powerful marketing tool," especially now that the street food adventure "is very alive."

"The street food culture is actually untapped tourism potential," said Binay, the Senate Committee on Tourism chairman.

"We should support the small-scale enterprises because they are an important part of the local economy," Binay said in Filipino.

"Who knows? One day, we can organize one big culinary event where LGUs (local government units) from all over the country can showcase their best Filipino beef stews and local menus in one street food festival. The possibilities are grand," she said.

Binay said LGUs can help identify vending and no-vending zones to ease the traffic flow of people and vehicles.

Culinary experiences should represent an important aspect of a tourist destination's initial impression, she said.

"It should play a significant role in influencing tourists' decisions to visit a place," she said.

Binay noted that food tourism "shapes the image of a city or locality." She said that because of food vlogs on social media, the local food culture, especially fusion street food, is becoming popular with tourists.

"Pinoy (Filipino) street food is not just a culinary experience but also an important part of the Filipinos' cultural and tourism landscape that we can be proud of. That is why the LGUs' support is important," Binay said.

She said street food hawkers and vendors are almost always forced to illegally occupy sidewalks, pavements and public spaces because LGUs fall short of providing them with decent, clean, and safe vending zones.

Binay said that food hawkers are "in constant fear of eviction, demolition and harassment because they are regarded as illegal vendors without proper sanitation certifications and business permits."

She said LGUs can help food hawkers in terms of training, sanitation and safety practices, food preparation, handling and serving to elevate the quality of street food experience.