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- EDD K. USMAN | X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
March 18, 2025 (SDN) — “Custodian of Halal Excellence Award” is a lot to be proud of. Gives awardees bragging rights.
Whoever receives the distinguished recognition bestowed by the Prime Group of Companies based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), can be rightfully called “champion” of halal, what more if it comes from a prestigious and internationally known company.
Well, for those who are not familiar yet, the current head of the Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF-BPE), Eng’r Rahmatol M. Mamukid, was former head of the Bureau of Muslim Economic Affairs (NCMF-BMEA).
And his former staff and personnel at the BMEA, which handles Halal-related initiatives for the NCMF, can attest to his constancy of purpose in promoting the Philippines’ halal industry, among others of his work at the bureau.
When he was at the BMEA, Mamukid has put in place key initiatives to push the growth of the country’s halal industry, including but not limited to forming a dedicated Halal Division at the bureau, the development of a Halal app, participation of the Philippines in the popular annual Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), and others, for the benefit of Muslim Filipinos, in particular, and the country in general.
Not surprisingly, the NCMF head Secretary Sabuddin N. Abdurahim pledged his full support to Mamukid’s plans for the BMEA’s Halal plans, including engagement with the Halal Certifying Bodies (HCBs) already accredited with the Commission.
As proof of his work in advancing and promoting the Halal industry, the Prime Group of Companies in Dubai bestowed on Mamukid the prestigious “Custodian of Halal Excellence Award” during the Halal Stakeholders’ Summit, Stakeholders’ Gala Night 2025 held on February 18-19.
What makes the recognition more significant is that it came even after the NCMF head, Secretary Abdurahim, transferred him from BMEA to the BPE, in recognition of his managerial and effective leadership.
After all, the pilgrimage bureau has the unenviable role and task of steering the Philippine government’s annual pilgrimage operation, which in the past before the present NCMF administration, experienced lots of problems, even anomalies, that prompted the House of Representatives to hold public hearings on Hajj 2022 and Hajj 2023 operations.
The awarding event was held at the Al-Habtoor Ballroom, Al-Habtoor, in Dubai, the UAE’s second largest emirate.
Demand for Halal food in the Philippines driven by products compliant with Islamic dietary laws
Mamukid was accorded the recognition, the first for a Filipino, “for his instrumental role in advancing Halal industry standards, particularly during his tenure at BMEA.”
Apparently, the NCMF’s focus on growing the country’s Halal industry is to take a bite at the expanding global Muslim dietary consumer products, food and drinks. Non-food Halal products include or cover pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, hospitality, health, tourism, and others.
The halalfoundation.org places the current value of the Halal market at US$7 trillion and is projected to attain $10 trillion by 2030, with food getting the biggest share at 35 percent of the total Halal market.
In the same report, the foundation cited Saudi Arabia as the biggest spender on Halal products at $207 billion.
The Prime Group cited Mamukid for his “leadership and dedication to fostering growth and innovation in the Halal sector (which) were key to the success of several initiatives aimed at promoting Halal industries and supporting economic development for Muslim communities.”
Under the leadership of CEO Dr. Mary Jane Alvero-Al Mahdi, Prime Group organized the two-day event.
“Thank you so much PRIME Group of Companies CEO Dr. Mary Jane Alvero-Al Mahdi for the prestigious award,” Mamukid says. “It is you and your company that gave emphasis and had truly seen and recognized the efforts that were done and initiatives” during my stint at BMEA.
Needless to say, the former BMEA head and Halal champion was very grateful for the award, expressing his sincere thanks and deep appreciation. He did not fail to thank his BMEA family for their unwavering support in all the time he was at the bureau.
Of course, Mamukid remembered to voice his heartfelt thanks to Secretary Abdurahim “for his continuous and steadfast backing of the Halal programs under the NCMF.”
As he was occupied with the present Hajj operation for this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, he was not able personally receive the award which NCMF Regional Director Monaim Guro accepted on his behalf.
Driving the country’s Philippine Halal industry, the same report pointed out, is “the growing demand for products that adhere to Islamic dietary laws. As the Muslim population seeks halal-certified options, the food industry responds by offering a variety of Halal products.” (/)
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The author
EDD K. Usman of Sub-Saharan Africa, Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (@)