DA launches banner program to help Halal food industry

COTABATO CITY -- A new priority program of the Department of
Agriculture (DA) is set to bolster a specific industry in the country.

The Halal Food Industry Development
Program (HFIDP) 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.

LawyerRanibai Dilangalen, the DA
undersecretary for Special Concerns, was designated by Secretary Emmanuel Piñol
as the DA-HFIDP national focal person.

Last year, the said official 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-M
for the Halal extension, support, education, training services, while P15-M was
intended for the distribution of production support assistance, Dilangalen
noted.

Originally, the agency has five banner
programs which includeand 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)