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About a year later, all that optimism disappeared into thin air, along with its Greenbelt showroom, which was once a vibrant outlet showcasing different e-scooter models. This space—meant to attract heavy foot traffic—has been padlocked very recently.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday announced the establishment of a national halal development office as part of its efforts to boost the local halal market and expand its export potential.

This DTI said the National Halal Industry and Development Office (NHIDO) is a landmark initiative designed to propel the Philippines to the forefront of the global halal industry by 2025.

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“The establishment of NHIDO marks a turning point for the Philippine Halal industry. It will serve as a unifying force to transform our goals into reality, unlocking opportunities for businesses, creating jobs, and elevating the Philippines as a Halal-friendly destination globally,” DTI-Halal Industry and Trade Office program manager Dimnatang Radia said in a statement.

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The NHIDO will act as the central coordinating body for all halal development efforts to streamline initiatives and foster collaboration, said the DTI.

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The office aims to create a unified and robust halal industry by encouraging and integrating stakeholders’ participation.

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Further, the government agency said that one of its key priorities is to simplify halal certification and standards, ensuring easier access for medium, small, and micro enterprises (MSMEs).

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“This initiative will be supported by expanded capacity-building programs that offer specialized training, equipping MSMEs and other stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the Halal sector,” said the DTI.

The new development office will also lead the nationwide launch of the “Halal-Friendly Philippines” campaign, which is aimed at stimulating market growth by raising awareness.

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The DTI said that public awareness programs will be rolled out across various media platforms and through community outreach programs.

The NHIDO will also be used to formalize partnerships with local government units and relevant agencies to improve governance and cultivate halal-compliant infrastructure, including slaughterhouses and cold storage facilities.

Earlier in January, the DTI said it was planning to double the kinds of halal products being produced in the Philippines within the next five years.

“To achieve this, we will foster collaborative efforts among government agencies, attract P230 billion in foreign investments, and, in the process, generate 120,000 new jobs over four years,” former trade secretary Alfredo Pascual said back then.

In 2023, Pascual said that the Philippines imported $120 million worth of halal products, illustrating the huge domestic demand for these kinds of goods.

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The global halal trade is also estimated to have grown to $3.2 trillion by 2024jiliplus, presenting a huge opportunity for local producers and exporters.

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