Country's first, modern Halal slaughterhouse rising in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY – The first andstate of the art halal slaughterhouse in the country is rising in Cotabato City. Another slaughterhouse that will cater exclusively to hogs is also undergoing renovation and rehabilitation. ”Halal” is an Arabic word that means permissible or allowed according to Islamic laws. Mayor Japal Guiani Jr said the modern halal slaughterhouse, situated in Barangay Tamontaka, Cotabato City, is expected to be operational by the end of the year. Dr. Robert Malcontento, DVM, Cotabato City veterinary chief, said the P20 million slaughterhouse was funded by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and realized through the efforts of Dr. Minda Manantan, NMIS executive director and the Department of Agriculture (DA). Malcontento personally worked for the establishment of modern Double A” slaughterhouse, the first and biggest so far in the country, as well as the rehabilitation of another slaughterhouse that will cater exclusively to hogs in Cotabato City. ”Cotabato City is lucky to have secured the funding for the new halal slaughterhouse and the rehabilitation of the old slaughterhouse that will cater to hogs,” Malcontento said. While the construction of halal slaughterhouse was on going, the city was again granted another P15 million for the repair, rehabilitation and modernization of the old slaughterhouse. Recently, Malcontento who represented Mayor Guiani, signed initially the Memorandum of Agreement with NMIS Director Manantan on the P15-million rehabilitation and conversion of the old slaughterhouse into AA” Standard Hogline at the NMIS office in Quezon City. Guiani visited the construction site Friday to check on the progress and told Veterinary officials and the contractor to ensure the project is being built according to standards. Malcontento assured the Double A” Halal slaughterhouse project was in accordance with the Philippine standards in building construction. Business leaders in Mindanao said a modern Halal slaughterhouse will entice local and international business leaders to invest in Mindanao. Vicente Lao, Mindanao Business Council chair, told a gathering of investors in Davao recently that a big market for halal products exists in the countries that composed the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). A new and modern Halal slaughterhouse will prepare the region for the ASEAN integration by the end of next year.