A HARMONIZED halal ordinance is being pushed by the Davao City Halal Industry Development Council in order to represent the Muslim culture in the business industry better, an official of the Philippine Halal Trade and Tourism Exposition (PHTTE) said.
PHTTE president and Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCII) trustee Marilou Ampuan said this ordinance will be more inclusive in meeting the needs of the Muslim entrepreneurs.
"[We are seeking] to create an ordinance that will encompass all the identified areas that need to be included and implemented for a more developed, organized and directed Halal ordinance and council," Ampuan said in a message on Friday, September 7.
Ampuan said this was one of the updates with their meeting with the Mindanao Development Authority's (Minda) "Consultative Meeting on the Establishment of Local Halal Council" on Thursday, August 6, at Ritz Garden Hotel, Davao City.
"The Halal council of the city, once finalized and policies be implemented, will bring a significant awareness on the importance of Halal as it encompasses areas not limited to food but includes non-food Halal products, Halal services, and Halal financing," Ampuan said.
She also added the projected Halal establishments will also be developed as one of the effects of the proposed ordinance.
"It will strengthen the link in the intra-sectoral and inter-sectoral groups as actions and activities shall be implemented for the utilization of the resources from different government or non-government sectors," Ampuan said.
In this way, Ampuan added, the Muslim community in Davao will be well represented as they will take an active part in the promotion of these establishments.
Based from Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) report, Davao city is the first city in the country that passed a Halal Ordinance in 2010, which has been amended to require establishments to get a Halal certification.