The statement was issued by Ishak Mastura, Department of Trade and Industry-ARMM secretary in the local newspapers.

His statement was concured by BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) country director for Brunei Darussalam, Rambli Abdullah, who said the project should have started last year, but has been delayed because of the arising issue.

"We are now looking at December this year as the possible starting date for the project," he said yesterday.

Rambli signed the joint-venture agreement on behalf of Brunei, Jeffrey (Indonesia) Datuk Ahmad Lope Abdul Aziz (Malaysia) and Vincent Lao (The Philippines) in in Davao in March last year.

Rambli agreed that the project was supposed to start last year but delays due to a private certifying body at ARMM in having its process approved by Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) or Department of Islamic Development Malaysia was hampering the venture's take-off.

The private-led Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board, Inc (MMHCBI), the only certifying body recognised by the ARMM government, has recently submitted its manual of operations to JAKIM for approval.

"We are ready to take up the project. However, it is the private certifying body in ARMM that is delaying the start of the project because their process is yet to be completed," Vincent Lao, Chief Executive Officer of the Davao City-based Maharlika Agro Ventures Inc, said.