Davao City became a bustling hub of culture and commerce as the 11th Philippine Halal Trade and Tourism Expo (PHTTE) unfolded from June 3 to 5, 2026 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang.
The event gathered international halal stakeholders, local entrepreneurs and community advocates to strengthen global collaboration while empowering Mindanao’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The expo was a dynamic platform that went beyond trade exhibits featuring International Halal showcase, Philippine Halal Industry summit, Business-to-Business networking sessions alongside halal tourism promotion, innovation and technology forums, cultural and heritage presentations, and specialized MSME initiatives.
City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, in a message delivered by Davao City Economic Enterprise (CEE) Manager Maximo Macalipes Jr., said that the expo reflects the city’s commitment to advancing halal trade, tourism, and cultural exchange while elevating local excellence to international standards.
“For many years, this exposition has served as a premiere platform for showcasing Halal certified products, foods and services by fostering strategic collaboration, meaningful discussions and networking among stakeholders, entrepreneurs and communities. We strengthen both the Halal industry and the tourism landscape in Davao City and the country as a whole,” he said.
Echoing this vision, Marilou W. Ampuan Al Hajj, Founder-President of the Universal Islamic Center and the PHTTE also added that they are positioning the Philippines to serve as a strategic gateway for halal trade and tourism within ASEAN, unlocking new opportunities that benefit not only Muslim consumers but society as a whole.
“The Halal industry is no longer a niche market but, a powerful economic driver capable of transforming communities, creating opportunities and building bridges across cultures and nations,” she added.
Visitors were also greeted by aisles of locally halal-certified products alongside international exhibitors showcasing innovations in food, tourism, and technology.
Free halal medical services, offered in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), were also conducted throughout the three-day expo.
Martin Paul C. Evangelista, Chief Sales and Marketing of Bioskin Philippines said their halal-certified products embody the city’s pride in homegrown excellence, adding that the expo allows them to showcase with confidence, knowing they are welcomed by the halal community.
“It’s very important for us to attend these kinds of events for us kasi siyempre, to exhibit how proud we are of our products tapos sinusupport kami ng local government sa Davao. Especially sa halal community, sa Muslim community na they are welcoming us na to display our products kasi alam nila na Halal certified kami (It’s very important for us to attend these kinds of events to show how proud we are of our products. Of course, it also gives us the chance to exhibit them with pride. The local government in Davao supports us, and especially the halal community, the Muslim community, has welcomed us to display our products because they know we are halal-certified),” he added. CIO
Written by: N. Malasado
Edited by: A. Nawal
Photo by: J. Faelnar