Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Monday inspected the proposed “Halal Town” in Quiapo, a landmark project envisioned to strengthen the city’s Muslim community while boosting tourism and trade ties with Mindanao.
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Boosting Trade and Tourism Through Halal Initiatives
Modeled after Manila’s Korea Town in Malate, the Halal Town concept seeks to establish a clean, secure, and vibrant hub for halal-certified products, dining, and commerce. Mayor Moreno emphasized that the initiative aligns with the city’s inclusive development efforts and ongoing commitment to celebrate cultural diversity.
“Every year, your city government hosts a food caravan from Mindanao,” Moreno shared, noting the city’s success in previous runs where Mindanao farmers sold P7.5 million worth of goods in just five days. “The city expects to replicate this success through the Halal Town,” he added.
During the inspection, Moreno appealed to the local Muslim community for cooperation in ensuring the site’s long-term sustainability and appeal.
“Can you guarantee that all the visitors here are safe? Can you keep it clean? Can you be good? If yes, there is no problem, and you can expect to be successful in the coming months, with the help of madam secretary,” the mayor remarked.
Supporting Inclusivity and Economic Growth
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, for her part, announced that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has pledged funding for the rehabilitation of the Golden Mosque complex in Quiapo—a major step toward realizing the city’s vision for a thriving Muslim cultural and business center.
“We will coordinate moving forward, mayor, with your office,” Pangandaman assured, explaining that the funding may be allocated through the Local Government Support Fund. She added that the Department of Budget and Management is also open to exploring public-private partnerships for the project, especially as the Philippines prepares to host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) events next year.
Moreno expressed optimism that Halal Town would become a model of cultural harmony and inclusive growth in the capital.
“We’re very happy with our city, where Christians and Muslims live together, do business together in harmony and in a peaceful manner. With the help of Secretary Pangandaman and the national government, this is a big thing for our Muslim brothers and sisters,” the mayor affirmed.
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