11/09/2024
Yesterday, September 10, 2024, NCMF Provincial Office, General Santos City under the leadership of Provincial Director Aida P. Seddic with the staff, Mosmar Mamad, Roslaini Ali, Alonto Diga, Cyrlh Millo, in partnership with the City Mayors Office- Integrated Cultural Community Affairs Division headed by Jocelyn L. Kanda, launched the Halal Mart along with the ceremonial turnover of the DPWH of the NCMF office building repair and food exhibit.
The program started with the cutting of ribbon spearheaded by Atty. Gapor Quituar, OIC, NCMF Regional Director, SOCCSKSARGEN with the invited guests and participants. The launching of NCMF Gensan Halal Mart is part of the promotional strategy of the halal industry as mandated in RA 9997. This will help promote and sustain our Muslim SMEs who are already engaged or willing to be part of the halal market. This project focuses on the needs of the Muslim Community in providing a wide range of halal foods and non-foods products in a convenient and accessible shopping experience for a Muslim and non-Muslim while adhering to halal requirements. The halal mart aims to provide space to serve as an access point of Halal producers to the Muslim. This will also create a welcoming and inclusive venue for the Muslim entrepreneurs that caters to the specific needs of the halal consumers as well as to support and promote Muslim delicacies, halal foods and non foods by providing additional services such as online ordering.
The message of the City Mayor Lorelie G. Pacquiao who was delivered by his Executive Assistant Mr. Richardl Casabuena gave emphasis of the LGU's support on the Halal program of the commission. He encourages everyone in adhering halal for its safety and cleanliness.
Incorporated in the activity is the ceremonial turn- over of the completion of the repair of the NCMF office building by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Regional office 12 under District Engineer Jonathan G. Bantug. The allocation of the 1.5 million budget of DPWH for the repair and renovation of NCMF building is a manifestation of the government inclusive services to its people. The NCMF Secretary Sabuddin Abdurahim who was represented by Commissioner Atty. Michael Mamukid awarded a plaque of appreciation to the DPWH Regional office 12 as recognition of the assistance granted to NCMF General Santos City.
Finally, the food exhibit of the specialty of the four major tribes in the City; Maguindanaon, Tausog, Maranao and Sangir became the highlights of the program. Each tribe showcased their specialty; sinina, pinakamalan and pastil from Maguindanaon tribe represented by Djiboitis catering services, Piaparan, beef rendang and kuning rice of MASIU of Maranao tribe, "Tiola itum" of Tausog tribe by Halal Restaurant in Gensan. The savour of the foods (viands and delicacies) presented by the exhibitors shows that culture and traditions of Muslim Filipinos still exist despite many changes in lifestyle brought by today's modernization.
The activity was attended by the NCMF officials, Atty. Commissioner Michael Mamukid represents the NCMF Secretary Sabuddin Abdurahim , Deputy Executive Director Jehan-Jehan Lepail, PS Director Haidee Ampatuan, OIC Regional Director Atty. Gapor Quituar, Invited guest District Engineer Jonathan Bantug of DPWH Gensan represented by Engr. Adriano Nogudula III, Mr. Richard Casabuena representative of the City Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao, Mr. Usman Aragasi, Chancellor, MSU Gensan, Shiekh Ibrahim Andang, Engr. Ali Suib al Hajj, Executive Director of Mindanao Halal Authority, Bai Amina Saliao, Branch Manager, Amanah Islamic Bank, Gensan, Mr. Gandhi Kinjiyo, halal focal person of CMO-ICCAD who delivered the closing remarks, group of SME's from Sargen, Muslim leaders, entrepreneurs, NCMF Staff from SOCCSKSARGEN.
The NCMF General Santos extended their thanks and appreciation to NCMF Secretary Abdurahim for expressing his support to the Provincial office, NCMF Regional Office 12, BMEA Director Engr. Rahmatul Mamukid who did his advance visit to the provincial office, Rahima Solaiman, Halal Focal person of BMEA, NCMF officials from Central office, our partner organizations, exhibitors of every tribe and everybody who makes the affair a success.
