DoST holds halal forum

To strengthen the country’s halal ecosystem, the 2026 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) will hold a forum on halal for micro, small and medium enterprises, industry players, the academe, and government agencies on 27 November at the Green Leaf Hotel in General Santos City.

The forum will be led by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST)-SOCCSKSARGEN. As one of four locations of the country’s Halal Verification Laboratories (HVL), General Santos is positioned to help local businesses tap the growing halal market.

The HVL assists MSMEs and industries in obtaining halal certification.

“We are providing assistance so that we can have more certified halal products. We also signed a memorandum of agreement with accreditors and certifying bodies so that products from other regions may be verified through our services,” DoST-SOCCSKSARGEN regional director Sammy P. Malawan said.

DoST-Davao regional director Anthony C. Sales said the DoST is reviving its Halal Science and Technology program to provide training and consultancy services to halal establishments.

“We have started with halal food processing, followed by halal tourism, and we want to expand to other industry sectors,” he said.

The weeklong NSTW will run from 25 to 29 November in General Santos City.