Lawmaker wants pork kept apart from other products

MANILA, Philippines - A Muslim lawmaker has sought the passage of a bill that would segregate pork from other meat products in groceries and markets.

Lanao del Norte Rep. Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo filed House Bill 4928 to ensure that non-pork meat products are free from contamination from pork, its derivatives and other forbidden substances, which is prohibited under the Islamic faith.

She lamented that distributors and retailers of meat products do not take into account the religious and cultural sensitivities of Filipino Muslims.

The bill requires the owners of supermarkets, meat shops and public and private markets to ensure that equipment, utensils and devices used in the storage, handling and selling of non-pork products, such as but not limited to freezers, slicers, cutters, knives, scoops, containers, weighing scales and wrappers, shall be used exclusively for non-pork products to the exclusion of pork products or its derivatives or any product containing pork or its derivatives. 

She said certain things and acts are forbidden under Islam, which is called haram, among them the intake of pork or any of its derivatives.

Dimaporo said there are close to five million Filipino Muslims all over the country, majority of them in Mindanao.

Under the bill, violators shall be penalized with a fine of P5,000 for the first offense and P10,000 for the second offense and revocation of the permit to sell meat products for the third offense.