NEGROS Occidental, with its strong implementation of various livestock development programs, is being eyed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to host the first halal slaughterhouse in the Visayas, an agency official said.
DA Assistant Secretary for Livestock Enrico Garzon Jr. told Sun.Star Bacolod that the national government intends to help the province develop a halal slaughterhouse, which will cater to commodities like sheep, cattle and goat.
Halal commodities have to pass certain guidelines in accordance with Muslim rights, from production stage to slaughter, the DA official said.
Garzon was in Negros Occidental Saturday to look at the potential of the province in terms of its livestock and poultry industry. He visited the Provincial Livestock Breeding Center and Dairy Farm in Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City, and the Negros First Ranch in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia town.
“We have seen a certain area within the Negros First Ranch that is available and ideal for halal production,” Garzon said, adding that he already told Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena that he will immediately ask the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) to conduct an evaluation.
The DA official cited the growing population of sheep in the province, which is already around 9,000, as an opportunity to attract potential markets through introduction of value-added projects like the halal slaughterhouse.
There is currently a huge demand for halal products, with the many Muslim communities in the country, including Metro Manila, he said.
He added that the DA is also looking at exporting the products to neighboring countries like Singapore.
“The establishment of halal slaughterhouse would cost millions and maybe run solely by the provincial government or through a partnership with various organizations,” Garzon said, stressing that the project would also generate bigger revenues as halal products have higher market value.
Garzon is part of the DA team that will attend a seminar on halal production in Jakarta, Indonesia Monday.
