President Aquino has signed into law the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act, which is expected to boost the country’s exports
The measure has established the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board to promote the growth and ensure the integrity and quality of Philippine halal exports. The act will create new halal export task forces and provide for upgrades to processing facilities such as slaughterhouses, warehouses and laboratories. It will also create incentives to attract investments in the halal export sector. A new Philippine halal logo will also be introduced.
Chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee Cynthia A Villar said that the law enabled local industries to compete in the expansion of the halal industry, especially with the implementation of the regional economic integration under the ASEAN economic community.
“Without a halal export legal framework in place, our products become susceptible to doubts from receiving countries," she said.
Islamic Da’wah Council President Abdul Rahman Linzag has also pointed out that the benefits of the halal certification will not be restricted to Muslim consumers because it is increasingly viewed as a reliable certification of quality by non-Muslim consumers as well.
“As the halal meat certification entails many processes from our monitoring of overseas cattle production facilities to the supervision of local meat processors, the certain end result is that the meat is very reliable,” he commented.
