Department of Trade and Industry in Region 11 (DTI 11) Director Romeo L. Castañaga said on Friday that the agency’s 2026 plan places a strong emphasis on Halal development.
Castañaga said while Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have mostly focused on Halal processed foods, he noted that there are growing opportunities in non-food sectors as well.
“The Philippines has the third-largest population in Asia after Indonesia and Malaysia, with around 12 million Muslim consumers. That’s a significant market opportunity for Halal products,” he said during the Business Insights media forum.
He said to boost market access, a task force is being formed to study the harmonization of Halal standards within the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region and plans to establish a dedicated working group to help Filipino businesses tap into this growing market.
“Our strategy goes beyond BIMP-EAGA. We are also targeting key international markets such as Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Japan, China, and Korea, where demand for Halal products continues to rise,” Castañaga said.
Meanwhile, also part of DTI 11’s plan this year is expanding support for MSMEs through initiatives like the RAPID Growth Project (Rural Agro‑enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth), which is a value chain‑based, market‑driven initiative led by DTI to help rural farming communities and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) become more competitive, productive, and connected to markets.
Running until 2027, the project covers the entire value chain from seedlings, production, and distribution to processing and market access.
“This is the first time DTI is acting as a full value chain facilitator. Our interventions now reach every stage of production, ensuring local producers benefit while strengthening the wider economy,” Castañaga said.
RAPID Growth aims to increase incomes, create jobs, and expand economic opportunities in rural areas by strengthening the entire agricultural value chain from production and processing to distribution and marketing.
It also promotes inclusive development by supporting underserved groups, including women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples, and by extending services through collaborations with government agencies, local governments, and the private sector.
