La Union Consular Office Participates in Regional Halal Sub-Committee Meeting

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Director Grace Falgui-Baluyan (leftmost) leads the discussions and workshop on Halal Sub-Committee. (CO La Union photo)

LA UNION 10 October 2019 – The Department of Foreign Affairs' Consular Office (DFA CO) in La Union, represented by Officer-in-charge Estelita V. Casuga and Information Officer Christian Kelvin C. Gonzales, participated in the organization meeting of the creation of the Economic Development Sectoral Committee (EDSC) Regional Halal Sub-Committee held at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Office in San Fernando on 17 September 2019.

The Regional Halal Sub-Committee Chair and DTI Region 1 Director Grace Falgui-Baluyan, presented the objectives and agenda of the meeting while Ms. Caroline M. Castro of National Economic and Development Authority Regional Office 01 (NEDA RO-I) presented the terms of reference of the Regional Halal Sub-Committee.

DTI Officer Nieva Loy Rafada discussed the proposed work and financial plan of the committee including the initiatives of DTI-1 such as trainings on Halal, conduct of Halal awareness seminar in all DTI provincial offices and to micro-, small-, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs), and the requirements to be Halal Certified, among others.

Further, Michelle M. Villanueva of DTI discussed awareness on Halal for the information of the body. The Sub-Committee members presented their initiatives on Halal Industry through public-private partnership.

The quorum agreed that the member agencies will undergo workshops in determining the support in implementation of the Halal Programs in the region and nationwide, support in monitoring of updates related to Halal products, processes and services for local and export, and recommend and suggest initiatives pertaining to Halal Industry Development in the region.

The next meeting will be tentatively held on 24 October 2019 to be hosted by DFA La Union. END