Modern halal plant opens in Maguindanao

The government has opened a modern halal hatchery and poultry dressing plant in Maguindanao as the demand for the $2.6 trillion global halal industry continues to surge.

The provincial government of Maguindanao recently inaugurated the first halal plant which is expected to provide livelihood and income to hundreds of poor Muslim families through a growership program.

“The halal dressing plant owned by the provincial gov- ernment of Maguindanao is the first for the government. We also have the first AA class slaughterhouse in Cotabato City. There are also others which are owned by the private sector,” Agriculture Undersecretary for special concerns and halal program head Ranibai Dilangalen said.

While the facility was funded by the province, the Department of Agriculture extended assistance through the growing of poultry in the houses near the plant which will in turn be processed and dressed in the halal facility.

The hatchery will initially produce 60,000 broiler chicks every week, while the dressing plant has the capacity to process 30,000 to 60,000 heads of broilers everyday.

Chicks produced from the hatchery will be grown in facilities inside the project site and in the homes of out-growers who will receive facilities from the DA.

Feeds and supervision will also be provided by the facility to Muslim families involved in the grow-out.

Built and operated following halal standards, the hatchery and dressing plant is the most modern facility in Central Mindanao.

“Halal poultry products have a niche market and the potential of Maguindanao as a major poultry production area is bolstered by the fact that it is a major corn-production province,” the DA said.

The facility will officially start its commercial operations by end-March.

The halal program has been approved as part of the department’s banner programs with an initial P44 million budget this year.

Halal is an Arabic word for “permissible” and usually applies to food allowed under Islamic law. The term also covers items like banking finance, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and logistics.