Philippines Pushes For Local Halal Slaughterhouses

Davao City, Philippines – Sheep and goat farmers in Davao City in the Philippines are urgently calling for the establishment of a dedicated halal slaughterhouse. This initiative aims to serve both local distribution and the burgeoning export markets in Southeast Asia, particularly in anticipation of the ASEAN Economic Integration. The current practice of processing halal products alongside pork in shared facilities presents a significant barrier to market access and adherence to Islamic dietary laws.

Councilor Marissa Salvador Abella, who chairs the city council’s agriculture committee, confirmed that local goat and sheep farmers approached her to champion the construction of a separate halal facility. “It should be separate,” Abella emphasized. “You can’t have the same facility processing the meat from these different products.” This segregation is crucial for maintaining the integrity of halal products and ensuring compliance with religious requirements.

Related: Demystifying Brazilian Halal Industry: A Visit To A Halal Slaughterhouse

Tapping into High Demand and Strategic Partnerships

Abella highlighted the substantial demand for goat and sheep products, including meat and milk, within Southeast Asian nations such as Brunei. She stressed the critical need for a partnership between the city government and the private sector to capitalize on this market opportunity, especially with the upcoming economic integration of ASEAN countries. Davao City, she noted, is well-positioned to invest in halal meat production, given existing collaborations with the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Ensuring Halal Integrity from Farm to Table

The proposed halal slaughterhouse is integral to a comprehensive halal certification process. Farmers could leverage financial assistance from the DA to obtain halal certification from accredited agencies like the Negros Islands Certification Services, Organic Certification Center of the Philippines, and Control Union. A key aspect of this certification involves meticulously vetting the feeds provided to the animals, ensuring they originate from organic and permissible sources. “Halal does not just involve prayer,” Abella explained. “We are also concerned with the technical aspects of the preparation of the meat.” This holistic approach underscores the stringent standards required for authentic halal products.

Government Support and Farmer Empowerment

The local government unit (LGU) is prepared to play a vital role in supporting farmers. This includes assisting them in securing loans and facilitating the necessary export requirements for their products. Abella plans to discuss the proposal with Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and suggested engaging national agencies such as the National Dairy Authority for further assistance.

However, Abella also stressed the importance of farmer readiness and empowerment. “But as our counterpart, we need to assure that the farmers undergo trainings, values formation and financial management,” she noted. This commitment to farmer development is essential for long-term success, transforming livestock farming from a subsistence activity into a profitable venture. “We can’t just have farmers serving the meat to guests during birthdays and fiestas without profiting from the livestock,” Abella concluded, underscoring the economic potential of a dedicated halal slaughterhouse for Davao City’s agricultural sector.