Agriculture Undersecretaries Ariel Cayanan and Ranibai Dilangalen, together with Assistant Secretary Andrew Villacorta and Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries Director Sarah Cayona formally opened the joint-celebration for the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month and Halal Awareness Week at the DA Central office on May 7, 2018 with the theme “Makabagong magsasaka at mangingisdang Pilipino, Susi sa tunay na pagbabago”.

Under Proclamation 33 signed in 1989, the month of May is celebrated as Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s month in recognition of the efforts and contribution of the millions of Filipino agricultural laborers towards the advancement of the food production sector of the country.

In his message, Cayanan stressed the hard work and sacrifices a farmer and fisher endure to feed the Filipino people.

“Always remember the hardships they undergo just to produce food and use this as your motivation to work harder in delivering services and interventions that they need,” he said.

Dilangalen on the other hand acknowledged the dedication of the farmers and fishers, in their chosen profession.

Dilangalen who also chairs the Halal Food Industry Development Program, announced that Halal food industry is now part of the banner programs of the Department making it a priority of the Philippine government.

On April 2, 2018, Halal was formally launched as a DA Banner program in order to fast track the participation of the Philippines in getting a share on the world Halal market which amounts to 2.3 trillion USD and is steadily growing annually.

“Halal is a trillion dollar industry, and there is a huge market for the Philippine Halal products,” she said.

The DA Halal program has been in existence since 2004, but it was only in 2016 that a Halal Program Management Office was established. ### (Carlos Cezar Baldosa, DA-AFID)