MANILA – The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is currently drafting guidelines to incentivize activities related to the halal industry.
PEZA Ecozone Development Department Manager Ludwig Daza recently told the Philippine News Agency that the investment promotion agency (IPA) aims to come up with guidelines by next year for the establishment of halal hubs across the country.
“Because without the guidelines and the approval of the PEZA Board, we cannot register halal projects yet. So we need the guidelines, the framework, so we can register projects related to halal industry under the CREATE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises) Law or the SIPP (Strategic Investment Priority Plan),” he said.
Daza also said the first halal hub in the country could be located in Mindanao, with its proximity to Muslim-dominated countries of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia which are also being eyed as partners of the country in developing its domestic halal industry.
He added that once the guidelines for halal hubs are out, PEZA would give incentives to the halal ecozone developers and locators.
The ecozone is also being eyed to host the entire supply chain for the halal industry.
At the PEZA 28th Investors’ Night last week, PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said halal and food production hubs are part of the new frontier of ecozone development for the IPA to support the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s target to stimulate the local halal ecosystem.
DTI Secretary and PEZA Chairman Alfredo Pascual targets to generate PHP230 billion in halal trade and investments and generate 120,000 jobs related to halal sector over the next five years, making the Philippines the most halal-friendly destination in the Asia Pacific region. (PNA)
