Davao City could be first Muslim-friendly destination in PH

DAVAO CITY – This city is set to become a pilot model of a Muslim-friendly destination in the country, Marilou W. Ampuan, trustee of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII), said on Monday.

Ampuan told a press briefing on Monday that the move to have this will start to be realized when the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, launched the National Halal Standard Scheme during the Halal Week from May 1 to 6 at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao.

She said more than 20 establishments serving non-pork products have been urged to acquire accreditation from the six recognized local halal certifiers in the country to support this new program, as they see the need to increase the number of halal establishments in the country catering to visitors from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The existing certifiers recognized by the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos are Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines (IDCP), Halal Development Institute of the Philippines (HDIP), Mindanao Halal Authority (Minha), Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board, Halal International Chambers of Commerce, and PRIME, a UAE-based certifier.

As a Muslim-friendly destination, the city will be able to participate in the $3-trillion global halal market by having the capability of exporting Halal commodities, while being able to accept visitors from the Islamic world.

She said they also hoped investors will put up halal-certified accommodation establishments and venues for the meetings, incentives, conference, and exhibitions (MICE).