Manila: Iligan City led the promotion of the country's Halal industry by launching the Halal Trade Expo on Monday. In her opening remarks, Almer Masillones, assistant regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Northern Mindanao, lauded the Iligan city government for passing City Ordinance No. 24-7458, which provides a framework for establishing a Halal Council and its mechanisms.

According to Philippines News Agency, the ordinance was passed in mid-2025 under national guidelines from the Republic Act 10817 or the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act of 2016. This policy safeguards Islamic dietary customs and fosters culturally inclusive growth. The ordinance sets guidelines on Halal Lanes, which mandate commercial stores to put dedicated sections solely for certified Halal merchandise, and the construction of the Double AA Halal Slaughterhouse and Cold Storage Project.

"Halal" is an Arabic word that means "lawful" or "permitted" under Islamic law. While most commonly used to describe food and drink that Muslims are permitted to consume, the concept extends to daily behaviors, personal hygiene, clothing, business dealings, and financial transactions.

Organized through a collaborative, whole-of-government approach with DTI-Lanao del Norte as lead agency and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, the six-day event showcases local Halal-certified products, innovations, and services from micro, small, and medium enterprises.