THE country’s 10 Halal-certifying bodies continue to include more certified products for the export market in a bid to carve out a bigger share in the global market, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced.
“We need to be keen on the different innovations and market requirements to allow the facilitation of inclusive, competitive and export-ready products to be certified as Halal,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said at the 4th Philippine National Halal Conference on Thursday.
As such, Lopez said, they are looking forward to creating a Philippine Halal Development Plan with a goal of establishing a local Halal ecosystem with global recognition.
The Philippine Trade Training Center, a DTI-attached agency, is currently providing capacity building programs for both food and non-food micro, small and medium enterprises so they can meet the requirements needed for certification, Lopez said.
The trade official said they developed 10 new modules and trained over 400 exporters as well.
In addition, he said, the DTI also assists Halal certification bodies through programs that update them regarding the various related local and international standards.
“Subsequently, they shall be eligible for accreditation by the Philippine Accreditation Bureau [PAB] as part of the requirements by some Halal Markets such as in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and others,” Lopez said.
Lopez also welcomed the official launch of the PH Halal app, which is seen to boost the local sector in terms of supplying Halal certified products and services.
The app is also expected to “provide an easy access guide for Halal establishments and productions,” Lopez said, noting it will help Muslim tourists to locate mosques and Halal-certified restaurants when visiting the country.
“With our Halal MSMEs continuously working towards improving their trade, coupled with technology and a new mindset, we can create a Halal industry that is pandemic-proof and pave the way for our participation in the Global Halal Ecosystem,” Lopez concluded.
In a recent event, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) urged the Malaysian investors to locate and expand their operations in the Halal hubs and production economic zones in the countryside.
Peza Director General Charito Plaza explained that the Republic Act (RA) 10817 or the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act of 2016 and RA 11439, and the Islamic Banking Act are supporting the country to become a “significant player in the global halal industry.”
The Peza chief—during her said meeting with Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia H.E. Charles C. Jose, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Norman Bin Muhammad, and representatives from Peza-registered Malaysian enterprises—noted there are 56 Malaysian locators in the ecozones.
They have contributed P17.571 billion worth of investments and currently employ nearly 11,000 workers, the regulator noted. These enterprises contribute $52.599 million in exports.
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