Philippines: Anchoring on the halal economy
With the construction of a halal slaughterhouse in Mindanao underway, the Philippines’ halal agri-products are in for a supportive boost, giving added credibility for the country to participate in the global $2.3-trillion industry.
Although under reported by media on the archipelago, halal agri-commodities in the Philippines contribute substantially to the economy, worth a total of $150 billion in 2010, according to figures provided to Inside Investor by the Department of Agriculture.
The Philippines’ halal industry, centered on the island of Mindanao, has already drawn international attention, with the UAE eying investment in halal poultry, the fastest growing halal agri-product in the country.
However, the deal has yet to solidify itself in any concrete manner, an opportunity for the $1-million halal abattoir to turn the tables.
Located in Cotabato City, Mindanao, part of the the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the site of the 3.7-hectare halal abattoir has already broken ground and is currently going through earthfilling, Dr. Norodin Kuit, Chief of the Livestock Divison of DA-ARMM and a Lead Halal Auditor of the NGO Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board, Inc, told Inside Investor.
The halal industry has, quite crucially, captured the ear of President Benigno Aquino III, who has openly extended support to promote exportable halal commodities, especially agri-fishery products.
The 2013 national budget clearly mirrors this boost as well. The island of Mindanao, home to 2.2 million of the country’s Muslims, compared to the approximate total of 9 million (the rest are located elsewhere, mainly the Sulu archipelago), has come under the magnifying glass for the greatest of government-led funding. Mindanao will be receiving the lion’s share of the government agriculture budget in 2013, at 40 per cent, which will be invested in the construction of the halal abattoir, livestock breeding centers ($14 million), and diary production ($7 million).
Yet despite the supportive push in funding, halal industry leaders still lament the absence of a segregated budget to help sharpen their competitiveness.
“No specific budget [has been] allocated for halal production except the stimulus fund for halal goat[s] in ARMM,” Dr Kuit said.
“Our objective’s now is to convince the higher up echelon of the [Department of Agriculture] to refocus our approach on production” on key halal agri-commodities, he concluded.
Among the largest companies already active in the Philippines’ halal industry are San Miguel Foods Inc (poultry and halal feeds), Monsanto, UniFrutti (bananas) and Del Monte, which recently posted the Philippines’ first dual listing.
With the construction of a halal slaughterhouse in Mindanao underway, the Philippines’ halal agri-products are in for a supportive boost, giving added credibility for the country to participate in the global $2.3-trillion industry. Although under reported by media on the archipelago, halal agri-commodities in the Philippines contribute substantially to the economy, worth a total of $150 billion in 2010, according to figures provided to Inside Investor by the Department of Agriculture. The Philippines’ halal industry, centered on the island of Mindanao, has already drawn international attention, with the UAE eying investment in halal poultry, the fastest growing halal agri-product in...
With the construction of a halal slaughterhouse in Mindanao underway, the Philippines’ halal agri-products are in for a supportive boost, giving added credibility for the country to participate in the global $2.3-trillion industry.
Although under reported by media on the archipelago, halal agri-commodities in the Philippines contribute substantially to the economy, worth a total of $150 billion in 2010, according to figures provided to Inside Investor by the Department of Agriculture.
The Philippines’ halal industry, centered on the island of Mindanao, has already drawn international attention, with the UAE eying investment in halal poultry, the fastest growing halal agri-product in the country.
However, the deal has yet to solidify itself in any concrete manner, an opportunity for the $1-million halal abattoir to turn the tables.
Located in Cotabato City, Mindanao, part of the the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the site of the 3.7-hectare halal abattoir has already broken ground and is currently going through earthfilling, Dr. Norodin Kuit, Chief of the Livestock Divison of DA-ARMM and a Lead Halal Auditor of the NGO Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board, Inc, told Inside Investor.
The halal industry has, quite crucially, captured the ear of President Benigno Aquino III, who has openly extended support to promote exportable halal commodities, especially agri-fishery products.
The 2013 national budget clearly mirrors this boost as well. The island of Mindanao, home to 2.2 million of the country’s Muslims, compared to the approximate total of 9 million (the rest are located elsewhere, mainly the Sulu archipelago), has come under the magnifying glass for the greatest of government-led funding. Mindanao will be receiving the lion’s share of the government agriculture budget in 2013, at 40 per cent, which will be invested in the construction of the halal abattoir, livestock breeding centers ($14 million), and diary production ($7 million).
Yet despite the supportive push in funding, halal industry leaders still lament the absence of a segregated budget to help sharpen their competitiveness.
“No specific budget [has been] allocated for halal production except the stimulus fund for halal goat[s] in ARMM,” Dr Kuit said.
“Our objective’s now is to convince the higher up echelon of the [Department of Agriculture] to refocus our approach on production” on key halal agri-commodities, he concluded.
Among the largest companies already active in the Philippines’ halal industry are San Miguel Foods Inc (poultry and halal feeds), Monsanto, UniFrutti (bananas) and Del Monte, which recently posted the Philippines’ first dual listing.
