Monday, October 01, 2007 Armm allots P1M for pilot halal project
KORONADAL CITY--The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) has allocated at least P1 million for a pioneering poultry and dressing plant project as the region strives to drumbeat the huge potentials of the halal industry, a ranking official said.
Norodin Kuit, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) -Armm focal person on halal development, said they are targeting to have the pilot project operational before the end of the year.
With construction works slated to begin after Ramadan, the project will initially include the growing of around 3,000 chickens for marketing in Cotabato City and in the towns of Shariff Kabunsuan and Maguindanao provinces.
A plucking machine with a capacity of processing 600 heads a day will be purchased as well as freezers to maintain the quality of the chicken meat, he added.
Kuit said the chickens will be processed using a semi-automated conveyor system.
"Initially, the pilot project will be under the supervision of DAF-Armm. But eventually, this will be awarded to a cooperative validated to have good trade practices," Kuit said.
He clarified the pilot project is separate from the much-vaunted P200 million BIMP-Eaga poultry project, which was expected to operate last year.
Vicente Lao, chair of the Davao City-based Maharlika Agro Ventures, Inc., said they did not start the project due to the failure of credible halal certifying body based in the autonomous Muslim region to issue a certification.
The private-led Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board, Inc. (MMHCBI), the only certifying body recognized by the ARMM government, is still getting accreditation from the Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) or Department of Islamic Development Malaysia.
Jakim's seal is considered highly acceptable by the Islamic world.
Lao's Maharlika Agro is partnering with Brunei investors for the halal poultry project planned to be put up at the 123-hectare special economic zone at Polloc Port in Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan province.
"We can't rush things now to avoid previous mistakes. What we like is we get the certification from the recognized private certifying body of the Armm regional government," Lao said.
Kuit said the regional government is keen on developing the local halal industry due to its potentials to uplift the economy of the autonomous Muslim region.
