HALAL industry players are optimistic of brighter prospects following the commitment vowed by the Brunei government to boost Mindanao's halal industry, one of the gains secured by President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent foreign trips.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told SunStar Davao in an interview Friday night (October 21) that Brunei’s expertise on Halal certification can aid Philippine’s gap.
“The estimated halal market global value is about $2 trillion, and we all know the expertise of the Brunei nation with respect to halal certification, we can take advantage of that,” Lopez said.
Marilou W. Ampuan, chair of the Halal Committee of the Tourism Congress and founder of Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce (MICC), in an interview with SunStar Davao, said it is a welcome development.
“We are happy for that news since we really need foreign investors for our Halal aspects,” she said.
In Duterte's meetings last week with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, the two leaders agreed on an intensified economic cooperation and emerged with a partnership between Brunei and Mindanao.
"We secured Brunei's commitment to help develop Mindanao halal industry, especially in certification and in capacity-building," Duterte said on the late night press conference last Friday at the Davao International Airport upon his return in Davao City.
The President underscored that “Brunei and Mindanao can be twin hubs for the production and export of halal-certified products.”
Lopez added that though Philippines has its own certification, credible certification procedure is needed for the country to export more halal products.
Halal, as defined, is a way of life that is "sanctioned by Islamic law" or is the "selling or serving food ritually fit according to Islamic law."
A Halal seal signifies quality and cleanliness.
Recently, Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act of 2015 was passed, pushing the potential contribution of halal industries to the country's economic development through exports.
For Davao City, Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce (MICC) is pushing for the signing of an executive order creating the Davao City's Halal Industry Development Council to further strengthen the position of the city as a “Halal-friendly” hub.
Apart from the amended Davao City Halal Ordinance of 2010, a development council to oversee the halal industry is also being eyed in the city.
“Yesterday, I followed up Davao City Investments Promotions Center for the updates of the council to follow up at mayor’s office,” Ampuan said.
She added that the DCIPC is positive that the mayor’s office will have an action on the creation of the council.