THE DAVAO City Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. (DCCCII) revealed that talks are ongoing with the local government and other agencies to establish Halal certification in the city.
DCCCII president Dr. Roland T. Suico said there is a need to establish a single certifying body for Halal which will set the standards from preparation, and production, to distribution.
“The direction of the chamber is to really focus on the Halal and to harmonize that with the international market,” Suico told reporters.
The creation of the roadmap started last year by the Department of Trade and Industry, Mindanao Development Authority, the chamber, the city government, and the Muslim Affairs Office.
Suico shared that an investor who wished to put up a food-delivery platform in the city tied up with Halal-certified products. However, did not push through with the investment due to the unclear process of Halal.
“We are creating a roadmap to clarify the direction of the certification because right now we have a lot of courtesy calls from different investors from outside the country,” he added.
The Embassy of Indonesia is pushing for Halal but the proliferation of certifying bodies for Halal in the country, with their respective logos, created confusion.
“When I had a talk with the Consul of Indonesia, the problem is if they will take some of our products, who are they going to consult in terms of accountability concerns? Sa kanila kasi isa lang ang certifying body,” he added.
If for instance there is a single certifying body overseeing the Halal industry, the official said, it will be the sole responsible if accountability matters arise.
Halal certification can be costly for a businessman to invest in, and without sufficient knowledge of the industry, they will only end up backing off due to the cost considering the return on investment.
The roadmap will serve as a guide for the direction of the industry, bringing a single logo, which will be recognized by the government.
