DOST-NCR Holds Webinar Series, Entices MSMEs to Explore Halal Certification

The Halal industry is one of the lucrative and fast growing industries today. A report on the “State of the Global Islamic Economy of 2020/21” states that the halal food and beverage sector has 1.8 billion consumers among both Muslims and non-Muslims, with food expenditures estimated at $1.17 trillion.

The Halal industry, however, is not just limited to food, beverages, and supplements. Medicines, textiles, and other products are also included, thus providing a lot of opportunities for different players in the supply chain.

Recognizing this, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has been promoting and encouraging Filipino entrepreneurs to venture into the Halal industry. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 10817 or the “Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act of 2016”, DOST implements a Halal S&T Program to help strengthen the Halal industry in the country. The DOST-NCR remains committed to promoting the Halal industry and imparting scientific and technical knowledge to Halal stakeholders in the National Capital Region (NCR).

On July 12 and 14, DOST-NCR hosted a series of webinars to provide an overview of the basic concepts of Halal, as well as the provisions and certifying bodies that prospective industry players need to be aware of. The webinars drew a total of 313 participants coming from the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the academe, non-government organizations, national government agencies, Islamic organizations, and other stakeholders.

The interactive sessions utilized the three (3) modules which were developed by DOST XI’s Halal Training Needs Assessment (TNA) team, namely: Halal Concepts and Principles, Halal Assurance System, and the Halal Management System. These modules were launched last June 29, 2020 as part of DOST’s initiatives to boost the Philippine Halal industry.

Day 1 of DOST-NCR’s webinar had Prof. Analiza G. Flores-Malayang, former Commissioner of the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), as its resource person. She discussed “Halal Concepts and Principles” and the “Halal Assurance System”, two (2) crucial topics for entrepreneurs that are thinking of going into the Halal business. On day 2, Mr. Albei Keith C. Tolete, a member of DOST-NCR’s Food Safety team and a certified Halal Lead Auditor by the Malaysian Halal Consultation and Training Agency, discussed the “Halal Management System”.

Aside from the business and regulatory aspects, the webinar and the modules were relevant as they provide valuable insights into the culture and practices of our Muslim brothers and sisters.

This webinar is just among the many initiatives of DOST-NCR to provide capacity building and technical assistance to interested stakeholders in the region. END

By: Aurora Marcelo and Shyma Carim-Musor, TSS