THE proposed Halal Town in Quiapo, Manila, may help boost tourism and livelihood in the capital, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.
On Monday, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman met with Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ M. Domagoso to discuss the project, which seeks to promote the halal industry and support Muslim-friendly enterprises through the redevelopment of the city’s historic district.
The initiative is being prepared ahead of the country’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit next year.
‘It’s good for our tourism prospects, trade, jobs, and livelihood, among others. Rest assured that if there’s anything needed for the Halal Town, we are ready to listen and provide the necessary funding to make this project a reality,’ Pangandaman said.
The DBM and the city government have yet to determine the total funding requirement for the project, but Pangandaman said possible sources include the agency’s Local Government Support Fund.
‘We at the DBM will just wait for the details and the proper costing of the project,’ she added.
For his part, Domagoso said the project’s benefits would extend beyond Manila once it begins attracting more visitors.
‘Some of the goods sold here actually come from Mindanao, so this is significant in such a way.what we used to call the underground economy.will now be placed in the right perspective,’ he said.
He also cited the city’s previous food hub projects-such as Tondo’s Ugbo and Sampaloc’s Fusion Alley-as examples of how community-based ventures can expand once given visibility and government support.
‘If you do the math, the probability of the community gaining economically is very high. That’s the national government’s investment,’ Domagoso added.
While no timeline has been finalized, he and Pangandaman said the project is envisioned to serve as a shared cultural space for both Muslim and non-Muslim visitors once completed.
‘By the time-maybe when the Asean Summit takes place-since most Asean countries have significant Islamic populations.the First Lady hopes there will be places to visit. This is a perfect area for Muslims to go to, while Catholics can also visit. Then there’s exchange,’ Pangandaman said. Among the Asean members with sizeable Muslim populations are Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
The Halal Town is among the 10 ‘legacy projects’ identified by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in the capital ahead of the Asean Summit 2026.
Other projects involve infrastructure repairs, traffic management, and livelihood support initiatives tied to the city’s Asean Summit preparations.