MARAWI
CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 16 (PIA) --- Muslim and non-Muslim exhibitors
all over Mindanao showcased an array of halal food and halal-certified
products in the two-day exhibition dubbed 1st Mindanao Halal Festival on
July 15-16 at the Abreeza Ayala Mall, Davao City.
Escider
Inc., a business investment firm spearheaded the two-day halal festival
that features foods, apparel, fashion accessories, organic products and
other services that are halal certified.
The 1st Mindanao
Halal Festival is aimed at attracting more investors and partners to put
up potential halal investments in Mindanao. The event provides
entrepreneurs producing halal products an opportunity through the
two-day market exposure. It also serves as a key focal point for
education of halal practices and what it means to improve business
integrity through values perpetuated by truly halal role models.
The
National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) with the Islamic Chamber
of Commerce, ARMM’s Science and Technology department (DOST-ARMM) and
the Davao City government supported the event.
DOST-ARMM
Secretary Myra Mangkabung said the two-day halal event also offers a
chance for consumers to explore the diversity of the halal food market
and its potential. “Muslim Mindanao has great potentials to become a
main source of halal products, which could spur the region’s economy,”
said added.
Among of the highlights of the festival is the
launching of the country’s first halal ordinance in Davao City and the
Mindanao-wide Qur’an recital competition. For each night of the two-day
event, the public will able to taste various halal foods through a
nightly food festival with dishes based on Mindanaoan cuisine. Winners
of the competition will receive monetary price and an all-expense paid
pilgrimage trip to Mecca next year.
“We should further develop
and promote our halal food particularly for export to also make our
tourist destinations in the Philippines more friendly to Muslim
tourists,” said NCMF Secretary Yasmin Busran-Lao.
“Halal food is consumed by even non-Muslim consumers because it has highest standards of food safety,” she added.
The
NCMF is a national commission mandated under Article 2 Section 8 of the
Republic Act 9997 to promote and develop the Philippine Halal Industry
and accredit halal-certifying entities/bodies for the utmost benefit of
Muslim Filipinos and in partnership or cooperation with appropriate
agencies individuals and institutions here and abroad.
As
of May 31, the halal-certifying bodies accredited by the NCMF include
Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board Inc., Mindanao Halal Authority
Inc. and Halal International Chamber of Commerce and Industries of the
Philippines Inc.
In ARMM, the DOST plans to conduct a
halal congress in October this year to help propel the region’s bid to
get a slice of the multi-billion global halal market. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)
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