Duterte: Brunei to help develop Mindanao halal industry

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he has secured Brunei's aid to boost Mindanao's halal industry.

"We secured Brunei's commitment to help develop [the] Mindanao halal industry, especially in certification and in capacity-building," Duterte said during a press conference in Davao City upon his return to the country.

Duterte returned from consecutive state visits to Brunei and China last week.

In Duterte's meetings with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the two leaders agreed on an intensified economic cooperation and emerged with a partnership between Brunei and Mindanao.

"Brunei and Mindanao can be twin hubs for the production and export of halal-certified products," he said.

Halal are food and drinks permissible to be consumed by Muslims under Islamic law.

A recently passed bill pushed to tap the potential contribution of halal industries to the country's economic development by making exports more competitive.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, however, slammed the bill, saying that it overlooked its religious significance to the Muslim world.

Aside from the halal partnership, the Philippines will also cooperate with Brunei in the war on drugs, and defense against maritime crimes.

"We will fully cooperate to combat the illegal drugs trade and collaborate on maritime and defense issues, particularly in addressing transnational crimes, piracy and crimes at sea," Duterte said. —ALG, GMA News