DTI Strengthens Philippine Halal Export

The Philippine Trade Training Center moderated the seminar on Strengthening the Philippine Halal Export system held on October 08-11, 2018 through the Philippine Congress Legislative Agenda at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.

The seminar, a joint endeavor of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the House of Representatives, is in answer to the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to step up efforts to promote the Philippine Halal Industry with its huge trade and investment stake in the $3.2 Trillion global halal market.  

DTI Executives led by Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman, legislators from Muslim dominated areas of Mindanao and agencies represented in the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board participated in the seminar highlighting the need for more venues to provide for opportunities to exchange information among various stakeholders. 

Halal Board to Unveil 1st PH Halal Export Develepment and Promotion Road Map

THE Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board, composed of nine government agencies led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is set to unveil the comprehensive Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Strategic Road Map as it holds the first-ever Philippine National Halal Conference on May 2 and 3 in Davao City with the theme “Towards Making the Philippines a Respectable Player in the Global Halal Ecosystem.”

The strategic road map includes the launch of the approved Philippine National Halal Certification Scheme and the Accreditation Guidelines, two of the most important components of the PH strategic roadmap for the Philippines to be recognized as a major player in the global halal ecosystem.

The conference will also gather some of the major Halal global players to share their experiences and best practices in establishing a respectable and sustainable Halal ecosystem in their respective countries through lecture sessions.

Also happening during the conference is the Assembly of the Philippine Muslim Religious Scholars, where information sessions and lectures on development of the Philippine halal export industry in line with the aspect of the Sharia or Islamic law will be conducted. 

According to DTI-EMB, as the Philippines opens its door for the global Halal market, it also widens its horizon as it pursues cooperation from the global halal community.

During the sixth Halal Export Board meeting held on March 21 this year, the Board emphasized the need for the Philippine standard-setting bodies, such as the DTI, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health to develop the necessary standards for Philippine Halal to be recognized in the global halal ecosystem.

“With the first Philippine National Halal Conference, we are eyeing heightened collaboration among key stakeholders and institutions that will work together in the promotion and development of the Philippine Halal exports sector,” said DTI Trade and Investments Promotion Group Assistant Secretary Abdulgani Macatoman.

In April last year, the Philippines, represented by DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, and Brunei Darussalam, represented by Pehin Dato Dr.  Mohammad Yasmin Umar, the minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the Halal Industry and Halal Export Development and Promotion.

The Philippines also signed a membership with the International Halal Accreditation Forum in December 2017. IHAF is an independent, non-government network of accreditation entities that are mandated to enforce halal standards in their countries and territories. The Philippine affiliation to IHAF is expected to pave the way for the entry and acceptance of Philippine halal-certified products to the member markets of the organization.

A similar instrument was forged between the Philippine Accreditation Bureau of the DTI and the United Arab Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority of the UAE government on mutual recognition for Halal accreditation last February 2018 in Dubai.

Over 350 participants composed of Philippine micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with halal-certified products and services, including travel and tourism services sector; representative from government agencies; Philippine halal certification bodies; academe; Muslim and interested non-Muslim consumers; Muslim religious groups; concerned civil society groups; international major halal players; and other stakeholders are expected to attend the event.

DTI leads Halal Export Promotion and Dev’t

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as the lead agency in developing and promoting the Philippine halal industry, is set to implement initiatives toward the development of the country’s Halal exports highlighting its potential contribution in driving trade and investments in the country.

Speaking at the recent World Halal Assembly held in Manila last 18 and 19 January, DTI Trade and Investments Promotion Group Assistant Secretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman cited figures validating the need for the Philippines to get involved in halal export, import and production.

“Muslim population worldwide has been steadily growing at a 1.84 percent per annum. In 2016 Muslim population was at 2.14 billion, growing to 2.18 billion in 2017. At present, 32.43 percent of Asia’s current population of 1.4 billion is Muslim. In Africa, there are 635 million Muslims. World Muslim population translates to a $3.2- trillion halal industry worldwide. It is expected to increase to $10 trillion by 2030,” explained Assistant Secretary Macatoman.

He added, “the sheer size of underserved markets makes it easier to penetrate the industry. There are simply more people who need Halal products and services than there are existing businesses.”

At present, the Philippines only contributes five (5) percent of the global halal trade. With the new Philippine halal law in place, Assistant Secretary Macatoman explained that Filipino entrepreneurs are in the best position to take advantage of the rising halal industry worldwide. According to him, Filipino Muslims naturally understand what the global market wants and needs, being part of the market themselves.

“Filipino entrepreneurs like the ones based in Zamboanga are in a unique position to take advantage of this trend, particularly the efforts of the Zamboanga Ecozone and Freeport and Regional Economic Zone Authority of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Preparation of halal food and fashion pieces requires a great understanding and obedience to Muslim culture, and we Filipinos have a great grasp of this culture and unique practices,” said Assistant Secretary Macatoman.

Assistant Secretary Macatoman also emphasized the importance of having harmonious halal certification and accreditation policies and standards for the Philippines to improve its integrity and credibility both at the national and the international communities.

The DTI’s Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB)—as the sole agency mandated by the Philippine halal law to handle the accreditation of halal-certification bodies, inspection bodies and testing and calibration laboratories—is currently developing the national halal-certification scheme that will embody the official guidelines for the accreditation of all Philippine halal-certification bodies that wish to be accredited by the PAB.

Organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Region 11, the World Halal Assembly was in line with the DOST’s mandate under Republic Act 10817, known as the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Program Act of 2016, which took effect after its implementing rules and regulations  were approved on July 26, 2017.

Islamic scholars, Muslim academicians and scientists, international certification bodies, government officials, entrepreneurs and Muslim and non-Muslim consumers were in attendance during the conference.

*This is Press Release