Manila, Philippine - The Department of Tourism says it expects to draw in more Muslim visitors to the country as an inter-agency body is set to come out this week with the standards on halal food production.
However, the World Halal Council maintains that the Philippine guidelines on producing food for Muslims would only be good for the locals and would not pass requirements of other countries.
In a statement, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano described the Philippine National Standards on Halal Food a "landmark development," saying that the guidelines would make halal food more accessible in the country.
The standards lay out the proper processing, preparing and handling of meals and food items, according to Islamic laws and teachings.
"It will be easier for us to break into the Muslim tourist population and present the Philippines as a destination that not only offers unique holiday experiences, but also one that respects their religious practices," Durano said.
The standards were crafted by the Philippine Halal Accreditation Board, composed of 19 ulama or Muslim scholars and religious leaders, in coordination with the departments of trade and industry, agriculture, science and technology, health, and tourism, the Office of Muslim Affairs, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
On Monday, Durano said the DOT would be aligning with its regional offices in initiating an information campaign on the National Halal Standards among restaurants, hotels, resorts, airlines, food and beverage companies, and other tourism stakeholders across the Philippines.
Last month, World Halal Council secretary general Abdul Rahman RT Linzag told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) the draft of the standards that the inter-agency body presented to him could not be considered acceptable to other countries.
In a letter to Bureau of Product Standards director Jesus Motoomull dated Feb. 9, Linzag said "a genuine effort should be exerted by qualified persons or groups to formulate an acceptable global halal standard."
Linzag, who is also president and chief executive of the Islamd Da`wah Council of the Philippines, maintained that matters pertaining to halal, in keeping with the practices of Islam, should not be a government function.
Source: business.inquirer.net (13 Maret 2008)
