By Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY – A Halal
advocacy caravan has been recently held here at the Top Plaza Hotel by the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI) with various consumer groups, national government
agencies (NGAs), local press as well as micro, small and medium enterprises
(SMEs) engaged in food servicing in attendance.
The
campaign aims to educate and promote public awareness on Halal concept from
Islamic perspective.
Technical
Working Group Member Ustadz Hadji Gaspar Amain of the Department of Agriculture
(DA)-9 said Halal is an Arabic term, which means lawful and permitted under
Islamic Laws.
But
in the Muslim community, it carries a much deeper meaning as Halal is
considered as part of their religious duty.
According
to Amain, Halal and Islam are two inseparable words. “Halal is pure, clean,
good and healthy, hygienic food everyone.”
The
role of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), Halal Auditing and
Certification, marketing opportunities and the importance of promoting halal
products were also tackled in the said activity.
In
his lecture, Mr Aliazer Abdurajim stressed the importance of promoting halal
products due to its huge market in the nearby Muslim countries.
