DA launches program for Halal food industry
COTABATO CITY -The Halal Food Industry Development Program (HFIDP), a new priority program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), was officially launched here on April 2, 2018 as a banner program of the DA.
The launching of the program was anchored on Republic Act 10817 otherwise known as the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act of 2016.
Through RA 10817, the DA was mandated to develop the Halal industry in the Philippines and enhance the capabilities as well as the global competitiveness of existing and potential exporters of Halal products, processes and services.
It was attended by top DA national and regional officials, local government units, and other key national government agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Health.
The launching ceremony disclosed the Department of Agriculture – Halal Food Industry Development Program Roadmap 2017-2027; introduction of the website for DA-HFIDP, and awarded distinguished LGUs and Halal advocates who have contributions in advancing the Halal industry, and as well companies with the most number of Halal certified products.
A credit facility intended for Halal was also shared by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, an attached agency by the DA.
Lawyer Ranibai Dilangalen, the DA undersecretary for Special Concerns, was designated by Secretary Emmanuel Piñol as the DA-HFIDP national focal person.
Last year, Dilangalen led a series of Halal roadshows and consultations for DA-HFIDP in every region to prepare the stakeholders in the implementation of this program.
“The DA allocated initial fund of P44 million for the Halal extension, support, education, training services, while P15 million was intended for the distribution of production support assistance,” Dilangalen noted.
Originally, the agency has five banner programs which include: Rice, Corn, High Value Crops, Livestock, and Organic Agriculture.
With the creation of DA-HFIDP, the Halal food producers in the country will surely gear towards better opportunities in the processing and marketing aspects.
“It is a dream come true for us, since the long wait of our Muslim consumers is finally over… we are happy that a specific program for Halal food industry was realized under the administration of President Duterte and Secretary Piñol,” Governor Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao said.
The governor, who is a staunch advocate of Halal industry, as well noted that he supports this advocacy through the Inaul Festival of Maguindanao, which was just recently concluded.
Halal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or permitted. In preference to food, it is the dietary standard, as prescribed in the Qur’an. CULAguillon/DA