More than two months after undergoing an audit, four (4) local food processors in Virac have been awarded “Halal” certifications, with a validity of three years, by an accredited certifying organization last week.
The certified Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) are Impling’s Special Delicacies for its “Latik” rice cakes, Mamita’s Homemade Food Products for its taro chips, Sarilikha Foods Manufacturing for its Christian peanut butter, and Belen’s Pinahamis na Pili Atbp. for its sweetened pilinut products.
Evelyn C. Bonifacio (Belen’s), Indalicia V. Efondo (Sarilikha), Emmaruth T. Tugano (Mamita’s) and Mark Miko Mendoza, who represented his father Simplicio G. Mendoza (Impling’s), received the certification from Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Dindo G. Nabol at the Governor’s Office conference room in the presence of Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza, DTI Catanduanes Provincial Director Ma. Belma Q. Escueta, Provincial Tourism Officer Carmel Bonifacio-Garcia, other DTI officials and members of the Catanduanes Muslim community.
It may be recalled that last April 2026, the four small businesses, three hotel establishments and the provincial government’s crab fattening project underwent onsite assessment through the assistance of the DTI as part of the audit conducted by Halal Focal Person Alejandro T. Deron, chief of the Cultural Affairs Division of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), and Bicol Grand Imam Ustadz Abdulbasit Magangcong Sulog, the official representative of the Alliance for Halal Integrity in the Philippines (AHIP).
Prior to the audit, 30 proprietors and representatives of food and accommodation establishments, as well as DOST and tourism officials, underwent an orientation on Halal readiness assessment and certification process.
In his message, Gov. Azanza reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening local enterprises, with the certification certain to create greater opportunities for locally made products to access national and international markets.
Demonstrating his strong support for the continued development of MSMEs, he immediately pledged an additional ₱200,000 from the provincial government to help fund another round of Halal certification for more local enterprises.
An Arabic term meaning permissible or lawful, “Halal” refers to products’ compliance with Islamic dietary and production standards.
The practice emphasizes cleanliness, human animal treatment, and ethical conduct.
It also extends to other sectors, including pharmaceutical products which should be free of prohibited animal derivatives and certain types of alcohol, and finance, with Islamic banks not imposing interest on loans and refusing investments in ‘harmful’ industries such as gambling.
The certification attests that an establishment, area/section, and processed products are compliant with Halal standards and Sharia’h Law; assures that it does not include any “haram” or forbidden components; and has in no way been in contact with any substance or objects considered as impure.
Aside from ensuring a high level of hygiene and safety of the product, the certification guarantees Muslim consumers that their religious principles have been respected.
There are an estimated 31,550 Muslims in the Bicol region, with Catanduanes accounting for 550 concentrated in Virac, Bagamanoc and Viga, while there are nearly 12 million in the entire country.
Islam considers the consumption of most food as permitted or “Halal” except for alcohol, intoxicants and illegal drugs, blood, carnivorous animals and birds of prey, dead animals and birds, immolated or burnt food, swine and its byproducts, which are considered “haram.”
An onsite assessment of establishments will consider the processing, storage, packaging and labelling, distribution, premises and facilities, and waste management, as well as the employment of an appropriate number of Muslim Filipinos as Halal Production Staff and Halal Quality Assurance Officer.
For a micro business with asset size of not more than P3 million and 1-9 employees, the application, ocular inspection and surveillance would cost a total of P23,000, with the annual certification fee costing P5,000 per product.
Small businesses with asset size of P3 million to P15 million and employment of 10 to 99 workers would have to set aside P28,000 for the inspection process and P6,000 per product for the annual certification.
For hotels and restaurants, fast food, bakeshops, farms, slaughterhouses, warehouses and supply chains, the cost of annual certification goes up to P20,000 per establishment or services for micro businesses and P30,000 for small businesses.