The Industrial Technology Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ITDI) clarified Wednesday, Aug. 18, that it forged partnership with its market research partner Dr. Dave Centeno and not with the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman for the market research study of halal cosmetics in the country.
DOST-ITDI Director Dr. Annabelle V. Briones issued a statement on Wednesday after it was reported that the Institute signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with UP Diliman for the implementation of the project, “Bench-scale Production, Safety Assessment and Market Research of Halal Cosmetics and Toiletries.”
"DOST-ITDI would like to clarify that Dr. Dave Centeno, Market Research Partner, is the collaborating party for the market research study on halal cosmetics in the Philippines,” she said in a statement.
“Dr. Centeno signed the MOA in his personal capacity and is currently serving as a consultant to the project, not as a representative of UP Diliman,” she added.
The DOST issued a report in July that ITDI signed a MOA with UP Diliman for market research of halal cosmetics.
Under the project, the ITDI Halal Cosmetics and Toiletries Research and Development (R&D) Team will provide 50 sets of halal-compliant products, based on the report.
These include moisturizing lipstick, moisturizing lip balm, shampoo with hair-growth promoting properties, whitening, and moisturizing bath soap, and whitening herbal toothpaste.
The products were developed through the project “Establishment of Halal-Compliant Standardized Process and Assurance System for Cosmetics and Toiletries,” which is funded by DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).
The PCIEERD-funded project is a component of the DOST Halal Science and Technology (S&T) Program.