Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region IX, hosted the Halal Summit 2024 on October 28 at the Dr. Juanito A. Bruno Gymnasium. Titled โ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ: ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ,โ the summit aimed to bring together key players, academics, and industry leaders to discuss the growth and future of the halal sector in the Philippines.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Teresita A. Narvaez, Vice President for Resource Generation and representative of University President Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena, warmly welcomed resource speakers and participants, expressing heartfelt gratitude for their presence and commitment to the summit. She acknowledged their valuable contributions and underscored the importance of their participation in advancing the discussions and objectives of the event.
Asso. Prof. Gladess A. Pagal, Project Leader of the Establishment of Halal Dressing Plant for ZamPen Native Chicken Project, emphasized the summit’s role in exploring, advancing, and expanding the halal industry on a global scale. She noted that this event comes at a pivotal time, as the halal sector continues to evolve, driven by increasing demand for halal-certified products and services worldwide, fueled by factors such as population growth, ethical consumption trends, and the need for high-quality, halal-compliant goods across multiple industries, from food and pharmaceuticals to tourism and logistics.
Mr. Ricardo J. Apolinario III, Assistant Regional Director of DOST IX, also delivered an opening message, underscoring the governmentโs commitment to supporting the halal industryโs growth as a vital part of the local and national economy.
The morning sessions featured a series of insightful presentations and discussions on groundbreaking innovations in halal food processing and product development. In the first plenary presentation, esteemed ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข ๐๐ฎ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐ง๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐ shared their expertise. ๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ณ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ข ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ก, Head of the Department of Technology and Natural Resources, delivered an in-depth presentation on ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, highlighting strategies for balancing texture, quality, and compliance to meet halal standards in food products. Additional sessions included ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ by ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ณ๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ข ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ซ, Head of Program (Food Technology), and ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐, led by Senior Lecturer ๐๐ซ. ๐ ๐๐ณ๐ฅ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ข ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ซ, which provided valuable perspectives on how functional foods and advanced processing techniques can drive the halal industry forward.
A panel discussion, moderated by ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐ฒ ๐. ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ, Regional Director of DOST XI, brought together leaders from various fields to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the Philippine halal industry. Dr. Sales highlighted the various initiatives under DOST’s Halal Science and Technology (S&T) Program, which aim to support halal certification, enhance industry standards, and foster innovation in halal research. Panelists included ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐ซ. ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง, ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ข๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐. ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ. ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ซ ๐. ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ง, who shared insights on regulatory compliance, market expansion, and cross-border alignment for halal products.
The afternoon sessions covered a wide range of topics, from halal ethics and business integrity to halal slaughtering practices. ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ค๐ก ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ข of UZCP spoke on ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, and ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ง๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข ๐. ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐๐ง from NMIS IX presented on ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, highlighting the importance of ethical standards in the industry.
One of the summitโs highlights was a series of presentations on research and development in halal, particularly within local industries. ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ. ๐๐ซ๐จ๐. ๐๐. ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ง ๐. ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ซ๐, Chief of the Native Chicken R&D Center at WMSU, led a session on ZamPen Native Chicken, showcasing innovative approaches to halal poultry production. ๐๐ฌ. ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ง ๐. ๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐, Project Leader of the Establishment and Practicing Halal: Compliance and Challenges in ZamPen, presented on Halal R&D Accommodation and Food Establishment. Additionally, ๐๐ซ๐ฌ. ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ ๐. ๐๐ฅ๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฌ discussed ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
To close the summit, ๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐. ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ spoke on ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, providing insights into livestock practices that adhere to halal standards. ๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐๐ฅ ๐. ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐จ, ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐, delivered the closing remarks, expressing optimism about the future of the halal industry and emphasizing the importance of inclusivity, transparency, and global reach.
As the day concluded, attendees were encouraged to collaborate and work towards a future where halal products and services adhere to the highest standards and remain accessible to communities worldwide. The event ended on a hopeful note, with participants looking forward to an enduring halal industry built on integrity, quality, and innovation. (PAO, LMP)
