Photo by Kasan Usop Jr.
DAVAO CITY—The Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism’s (MTIT) Bangsamoro Halal Board (BHB) has initiated the development of the 6-year Bangsamoro Halal Development Plan 2024-2029, which took place during a 3-day workshop held in this city from May 30 to June 1.
The plan, in partnership with the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN-FAO), will serve as a comprehensive guide to establishing a competitive halal industry in the BARMM. The aim is to produce Halal products and services that comply with market standards and cater to both local and global markets.
Minister Abu Amri Taddik of the MTIT emphasized the importance of promoting and practicing Halal within the Bangsamoro Government.
“Your role in this workshop is vital and your collective output will serve as the substance of the Halal roadmap in the Bangsamoro region,” Taddik, who also chairs the Bangsamoro Halal Board, said.
BPDA Director-General Engr. Mohajirin Ali emphasized the need for enterprises and industries in the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan to be Halal-compliant, as this would enable them to tap into broader markets.
“It is imperative that we should formulate a Halal Industry Development Plan, a blueprint that will guide our concerted efforts and facilitate the implementation of policies and programs dedicated to fostering Halal development in the region,” Ali said.
The workshop also focused on harmonizing the Halal industry within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) member countries. This collaboration aims to foster a more coordinated Halal effort and optimize resource allocation for the Bangsamoro Government.
However, Atty. Sukarno Abas, Deputy Minister of MTIT, clarified that while the BARMM is in the process of crafting the Halal Development Plan, it is not yet able to certify or accredit any Halal industries or establishments in the region.
Teddy Monroy, the Country Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), assured the development partners of the Bangsamoro region, including the entire United Nations System, that they would collaborate to ensure the creation of an inclusive, innovative, competitive, resilient, and sustainable economy.
This would provide opportunities for ease of work and livelihood within the region while tapping into the potential of the global market and the BIMP-EAGA corridor.
“The Halal industry presses an edge point to further develop in the BARMM’s productive sectors to take advantage not only of the national market but also the expert potential around the world and also that specifically along the BIMP-EAGA corridor,” Monroy said.
Dante Eleuterio, Head of the UN-FAO Mindanao Sub-Office, expressed the commitment of UN-FAO to support the transition period of the Bangsamoro Government to create more opportunities for farmers and fisher folks to be active and productive sectors of the region towards sustainable food security, economic progress, and better nutrition.
“Rest assured that we, in FAO, will always be an active and supportive partner towards the achievement of the vision of Bangsamoro towards sustainable peace and development,” Eleuterio stressed.
The workshop saw the participation of over 50 planners from various BARMM ministries, offices, and agencies, as well as representatives from development partners, business and consumer sectors, and academia. (Kasan Usop Jr./BIO)
