DA-10 supports institutionalization of Halal ordinance in Iligan City.

 

ILIGAN CITY – To further enhance Iligan City’s Halal initiatives, the Department of Agriculture in Region 10 (DA-10) through its Lanao del Norte (LDN) Provincial Operations Center (POC) spearheaded a coordination meeting with the City Local Government Unit (CLGU) of Iligan to discuss the institutionalization of the Halal Ordinance here.

On February 20, DA-10 LDN POC chief Engr. Abdulharis P. Paporo, who is also the Halal alternate focal person, Kevin R. Fernan, focal person for agriculture of Iligan City Agriculture Office together with City Councilor Atty. Maria Paz Teresa V. Zalsos and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Iligan City Field Director, Dir. Norolain Jamil Balt, convened to tackle the significance of institutionalizing a Halal ordinance in the locality.

According to Engr. Paporo, the coordination meeting catalyzed collective action toward establishing Iligan City as a beacon of Halal industry excellence, with stakeholders uniting to promote economic growth and cultural diversity in the region.

“It is the purpose of this Ordinance to promote, protect, and respect the religious belief, customs and traditions of our Muslim community here in Iligan city in their sacred concept of Halal,” he said.

The term “Halal” is commonly used in Arabic to indicate permissibility or acceptability. It refers to a set of dietary guidelines and practices followed by Muslims according to their Islamic law.

As development partners in promoting well-being and integrity among Muslim brothers and sisters in Mindanao, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado underscored the importance of cross-agency collaboration in pursuing this endeavor.

The agri chief exec also recognized the local government’s dedication as partners of DA in advancing the Halal industry, as it creates a more conducive environment for the growth and development of the agri-fishery sector.

Meanwhile, Councilor Zalsos and Dir. Balt expressed their commitment to the cause, with Councilor Zalsos even indicating her willingness to sponsor the drafting and endorsement of a local ordinance. Furthermore, the group also discussed the possibility of attending the Halal International Congress, which is slated to take place in Turkey in May 2024, in addition to local efforts to attain invaluable knowledge and networking opportunities to further strengthen Iligan City’s Halal initiatives.#