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Key players within the Philippine halal industry are ramping up efforts in halal food production, with the goal of expanding market access both locally and internationally, and achieving a 10% increase in exports.
Ammar Yassir Baraguir, heading the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Halal Project Management Office, highlighted the ongoing second phase of the DA-Halal Food Industry Development Program’s decade-long roadmap (2017-2027). This phase centers on production.
Baraguir revealed that numerous halal multiplier farms have been established, encompassing the procurement of animals valued at P5 million for distribution in areas covered by these farms. Moreover, technical assistance is extended to private farms aspiring to attain halal certification.
Guidelines have been formulated for DA-assisted halal farms, providing support to those financially incapable of full halal certification. This approach ensures recognition as halal even before full certification.
Baraguir also revealed plans to compile a catalog of DA-assisted halal products, aimed at assisting producers who are on the verge of being halal certified.
Efforts are underway, in collaboration with the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, to create additional Philippine National Standards for Halal. Six such standards have already been established, covering halal agriculture and fisheries products, halal slaughtering practices for ruminants and poultry, halal feeds, and codes for halal goat production and the production of halal raw milk.
The second phase focuses on expanding halal crops, animals, milk, and agri-fishery outputs. After this phase, the roadmap’s third stage, concentrating on exportation, will follow.
The initial phase aimed to mainstream the halal food industry development program, establish a policy framework, provide capacity-building, conduct training activities, and engage in promotional activities across various media platforms.
