San Juan Representative JV Ejercito Estrada urged the government to fast-track the development of a roadmap which will outline strategies that will spur the growth of the local halal industry.

The Philippine government is still in the process of drafting a “road map” which will outline measures to develop the local halal industry and allow exporters to comply with international standards for halal products such as food and medicines.

Ejercito Estrada noted that Mindanao is strategically located and can easily export halal products to neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia where there are large Muslim populations.

Establishing a local halal industry will also provide livelihood opportunities to those affected by typhoon Pablo in Mindanao, the young lawmaker said.

“There are plenty of opportunities for locally-produced halal products particularly since the demand for these have been increasing both in the domestic and global fronts,” the solon said.

The global halal market is currently estimated at $2.3 trillion and continues to rise due to the annual increase in Muslim population.

“Halal” is an Arabic word which means any object or action that is permissible to use or engage in accordance to Islamic law.

 

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