Mayor ‘Isko Moreno’ looks at plans for the creation of a Halal Town in Manila’s Quiapo district. With him is budget secretary ‘Mina’ Pangandaman. (Photo by Itoh Son)
Determined to boost trade and development in Manila, Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso visited the city’s Quiapo district to personally see the feasibility of establishing what he calls a ‘Halal Town’ and rehabilitate our brother Muslims center for worship in the Golden Mosque.
With Mayor Domagoso during the site inspection for the proposed Halal Town were Vice Mayor Angela Lei ‘Chi’ Atienza, budget secretary Amenah ‘Mina’ Pangandaman as well as and other city government officials, who expressed full support for the developmental plan.
Onseeing the site, everyone expressed the city government’s eagerness to find the perfect balance between sustaining the economy of Manila and preserving its rich history and culture as plans for the development of the long-awaited Halal Town and the major rehabilitation of the Golden Mosque Complex in Quiapo received the green light from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Prior to this, Domagoso had met with Secretary Pangandaman at the city hall to discuss preparations for the two projects ahead of the country’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Summit next year.
The mayor had likewise met with National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) regional director Dimapuno Datu Ramos Jr. to tackle the Halal Town project, as the former stressed it is high time for its creation, same as the Chinatown and Korea Town in Manila, as the city continues to become a famous food hub for gourmets and epicures.