Philippines: Soccsksargen sees stronger halal industry under new administration
ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Soccsksargen area has laid down policy plans to a reinforced halal industry under the incoming administration. The region is composed of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos.
BFAR regional director Sani Macabalang, concerned with the ongoing exports of fish and other fishery products to Muslim countries, is resolute in advancing halal regulations and development to spur the local industry’s growth.
Macabalang noted that the National Economic and Development Authority reported that the Philippine halal industry could be among the local drivers of economic growth to help the country cope with the global financial turmoil.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) also said the Philippines has a comparative advantage over neighboring countries when it comes to the fledgling halal industry, especially now that both the Visayas and Mindanao regions have been declared and recognized by the Office International des Epizooties and the World Animal Health Organization as free from the foot-and-mouth disease and bird flu.
In laying down policy plans for the industry, Macabalang highlighted Article II, Section 8 (h) of Republic Act 99971, which specifies the principal task of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), which is to promote and develop the Philippine halal industry and accredit halal-certifying entities or bodies for the benefit of Muslim Filipinos and in partnership with appropriate agencies, individuals and institutions here and abroad.
Macabalang said the policy plans were laid down by his office last week.
“To wholly promote and develop the Philippine halal industry, there should be a perfect partnership among stakeholders and that purports a leveling off of mandates and responsibilities,” Macabalang said.
In implementing a halal food industry and development program, Macabalang puts emphasis on the comprehensive partnership of NCMF and the appropriate technical agencie—the DA-BFAR together with the National Meat Inspection Service, Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standard and Bureau of Animal Industry; Bureau of Food and Drugs of the Department of Health; Department of Science and Technology; Department of Trade and Industry; and Department of Tourism.
“This will require each technical agencies concerned?to have a similar halal mandate in the form of an executive order that will institutionalize rules and regulations on HARAAM analysis critical control points in food processing, halal inspections, halal quality assurance, halal audit and halal handling, transporting and packaging including halal integrity services,” Macabalang said.
“The complementation of proper technical agencies in upgrading the halal industry in the country is essential, not only to boost the economy, but also for the reassurance that the rights and well-being of Muslim Filipinos are recognized and valued. Foremost of this is to ensure the halal integrity of all products coming from the Philippines,” he added.
Macabalang is optimistic that the Aquino administration will include among his economic priorities the upgrading of the local halal industry to make it have a comparative advantage over other countries.
