Philippines: Halal consumer group organized

A Halal consumers group has been organized to advocate the development and promotion of existing Halal-certified products in Zamboanga City. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Provincial Director Ceferino Rubio said the group was organized last week during a meeting with Muslim leaders and officials from the public and private sectors. Elected as officers of the newly-formed group were Raphy Ayub, chairperson; Bazer Jainal, vice-chairperson; and Cerna Ahmad-Ayub, secretary. Rubio said the group aims to ensure the welfare and protection of consumers particularly on the existing Halal-certified products.
During the meeting, DTI Provincial Consumer Protection Division Chief Jamir Omar Abubakar presented to the group the salient features of Republic Act 10817, otherwise known as the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act of 2015. Abubakar said the new law aims to make the Philippine halal export industry more competitive in the global market. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)