These leaders are newly appointed Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) head Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno and Joji Ilagan-Bian, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) BIMP-EAGA Halal Committee chair.
Speaking at the Business Matters press briefing Friday(Aug. 9) at Hukad restaurant at the Ayala Malls Abreeza, Sec. Magno said hopefully by October during the BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials Ministerial Meeting, policy recommendations will be ratified, including Halal Certification.
Currently, cluster meetings of the different industry sectors within the Muslim-dominated BIMP-EAGA are ongoing to discuss issues and concerns to strengthen the growth area’s economic relations and cooperation. Magno said that Resolutions and policy recommendations to address the problems identified and discussed during the cluster meetings will be presented during the BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials Ministerial Meeting by October for ratification.
“MinDA will spearhead in dealing with other countries within the BIMP-EAGA to come up with a clear government policy on several issues confronting the industry sectors including Halal certification,” Magno said. Magno is the Philippine Signing Minister for BIMP-EAGA.
Magno and Bian agreed the certification problem remains the biggest challenge facing the Halal Industry in the Philippines specifically in Mindanao where the Halal Industry is picking up with various Halal products.
Bian for her part as the newly named PCCI BIMP-EAGA Halal committee chair said she has a plan to meet with the key players in the Halal Industry to determine the root cause/s of the problem in Halal certification; surpass the differences; and come up with a common agreement.
“I plan to bring in the key players, the certifiers, the bodies and talk to them and my understanding of what is causing the problem, “ Bian said.
She said the Halal sector shares the same goal, which is to capture the huge market opportunities for halal-certified products.
“I promise to bring all the key players. We don’t have sectoral interest, we don’t have a personal interest, our interest is just one, that we will all be able to do business in halal that is shared by the stakeholders,” Bian said.
Unless the differences and root problems of Halal certification are settled, the problem will persist and back to the status quo, she added.
Currently, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos(NCMF) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) under the law are declared Halal Accreditation Bodies (HABs). This is where the confusion comes to light.
Muslims are known to be the most concerned about consuming halal products. The life of a Muslim revolves around the concepts of halal (lawful, permissible) and haram (forbidden, unlawful).
The Halal Industry will highlight the upcoming 1st PCCI BIMP-EAGA Trade and Investment Conference on August 20 to be held at the Manila Hotel.
The conference will feature local and foreign speakers who will discuss the potential of developing the halal industry in the Philippines. The sessions will also explore opportunities for collaborations among the BIMP-EAGA economies.
The upcoming event is considered a venue to market Mindanao's economic potential. “When you market Mindanao, you need to step outside of Mindanao. This conference presents a unique advantage for the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and for the island itself, as we can showcase the vast business and investment opportunities available in the BIMP-EAGA region,” Magno said.
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) head Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno and Joji Ilagan-Bian, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) BIMP-EAGA Halal Committee chair.
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