PANABO CITY – Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), under the purview of the Office of Research, Extension, and Production (REP), extended invitations to stakeholders across sectors for a dialogue on the purpose and plans of the DNSC Halal Industry Research and Training Center. The stakeholders’ consultation meeting was held at the DNSC Gender and Development Conference Room on November 29, 2023.

Representatives from Hayatul Ulama Davao Region, Darul Ifta Davao Region, the Bangsamoro Women Organization of Davao Oriental, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Davao del Norte were able to attend the activity, as well as elected officials of the City of Mati, shrimps and crab growers from Davao Oriental, coffee shop owners, chocolate manufacturers and exporters, snacks manufacturers, Islamic scholars from Panabo City, Davao Occidental, and Davao City, and small-scale food business owners.

The rationale was given by DNSC Vice President for REP Eliseo Huesca, Jr., while a Primer on the Halal Industry was presented by Dr. Azura Amid, Dean of the International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Dr. Nurrulhidayah Ahmad Fadzillah, Deputy Dean of INHART, talked about the IIUM-INHART experience and their quest to build a Global Halal Ecosystem. The last part of the program was a discussion on Halal Standards in Practice: The Malaysia Experience, delivered by Dr. Ibrahim Abu Bakar, Associate Professor, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, IIUM. The attendees were given time to express their insights and queries during the open forum.

The stakeholders, mostly industry players and members of Muslim communities in the region, exhibited enthusiasm and expressed support for the research and training center. DNSC looks to strengthen its network with the stakeholders to contribute to a more vibrant, compliant, and sustainable Halal industry.