Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 16) — The government needs to form a body that will support the development and promotion of the halal industry, the Department of Trade and Industry said on Monday.
The agency earlier said a soon-to-launch national strategy to develop the sector targets to generate ₱230 billion in investments and create 120,000 jobs in five years.
“We need to establish the certifying body. I was surprised up to now that action needed to establish the certifying body has yet to be completed,” Trade Sec. Alfredo Pascual told CNN Philippines’ The Source. Past administrations have discussed the creation of such an agency but it never went beyond that.
The strategy includes the certifying body that will promote halal food and non-food products like cosmetics, tourism, and banking, Pacual said.
He said small enterprises, which are mostly engaged in food production, will be encouraged to do so in a halal way so their produce can be exported to predominantly Muslim countries. Financial, and technology assistance will be provided to them, he added.
“We’re starting with BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) area, particularly in the rehabilitation of Marawi. We have given them about ₱66 million… helping them revive the industries in Marawi City,” Pascual said.
