In a bid to enhance tourism and trade, the Philippines is developing a comprehensive “halal ecosystem,” according to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).
This initiative aims to increase commercial exchanges with Arab and Muslim countries.
The NCMF said that despite Muslims making up only around 10 million of the nearly 120 million predominantly Catholic population, the country is keen on significantly expanding its domestic halal industry.
The government targets raising 230 billion pesos ($4 billion) in investments and generating approximately 120,000 jobs by 2028 through tapping into the global halal market, valued at over $7 trillion.
As the sole Islamic religious institution within the government structure, the NCMF plays a crucial role in ensuring that products and initiatives developed under this halal drive adhere to Islamic regulations.
“NCMF should lead in the implementation of programs and activities pertaining to halal,” said Sabbudin Abdurahim, new NCMF Secretary in an interview with Arab News.
“We are spearheading the development through collaboration with partner stakeholders to establish a halal ecosystem in the Philippines,” he added.
Government agencies such as the Department of Trade, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Tourism to expand the market presence of halal-certified products.
These include not only food and beverages but also travel services.
The Philippines’ recognition as the Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination at the Halal in Travel Global Summit in 2023 has spurred significant investments to attract visitors from the Middle East and nearby Muslim-majority countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Efforts are focused on ensuring access to halal products and services for these visitors.
“Without a developed halal ecosystem, potential visitors from Arab and Muslim countries might opt for destinations like Malaysia, where halal food is readily available. If we have halal restaurants here in the Philippines, many visitors from Arab or Muslim countries will come. Our halal division is already meeting with hotels, restaurants, and other establishments to collaborate,” the NCMF chief noted.
Abdurahim believes that the expansion of the halal industry will benefit not only Muslim Filipinos but also the broader Philippine economy. “It will benefit the economy in general,” he emphasized.
