Two distinguished faculty members from the College of Food and Consumer Sciences and Technology (CFCST) at the University of Mindanao, Bai Puti Manslao and Assistant Prof. Lyrie Anne Gabini, participated in a 10-day in-person short course on Halal Food Standard Compliance from November 10-19, 2024, at the Universitas Bakrie in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The course was organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through its Higher Education Upskilling and Study for Advancement of Staff and Faculty (HUSAY) Program.
It was conducted in partnership with Universitas Bakrie, the Local Graduate Scholarships of the Philippines, and the Embassy of the Philippines in Jakarta. The intensive program provided participants with an in-depth understanding of halal food standards, production processes, and compliance requirements, with hands-on training, workshops, and group discussions.
As part of the curriculum, Manslao and Gabini visited several halal-certified production facilities, including Yili Indonesia Dairy, Yoyic Dairy Indonesia, and Aerofood Indonesia. These site visits offered valuable insights into the real-world application of halal standards in food production, further enriching the participants’ professional expertise.
Manslao and Gabini were among the 25-member delegation representing various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the Philippines, with a significant portion of the group hailing from Mindanao. The delegation included experts from diverse sectors, such as food technology, tourism and hospitality, and agro-industry.
The CHED scholarship, granted under the Continuing Professional Development Studies Grant (CPDSG), covered the entire program, including training fees, travel, accommodation, meals, and a stipend. Upon completion of the course, participants received certificates of completion and participated in immersive field visits designed to enhance their understanding of halal food production.
The course is part of CHED’s broader effort to equip Filipino professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet global standards, particularly in the growing halal food industry.
Through this initiative, the program aims to promote better understanding and compliance with halal practices, benefiting industries and institutions in the Philippines involved in food production and related fields.
