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13th Congress of the Republic 
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of the Philippines 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
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SENATE 
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Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks the creation of the National Commission on Muslim 
Filipinos (NCMF). NCMF takes over the functions of the Office on Muslim Affairs 
(OMA), which is hereby proposed to be abolished. It is tasked to oversee the 
local and national affairs involving Muslim Filipinos that includes the 
implementation of economic, educational, cultural, and infrastructure programs 
for Muslim Filipino communities. 
NCMF, which is under the Office of the President, shall be composed of 
nine (9) full-time members who are Muslim Filipinos. This Commission shall 
advice and assist. I the President in the formulation, coordination, implementation 
and monitoring of policies, plans, programs and projects affecting Muslim Filipino 
communities, and shall serve as the medium through which such assistance may 
be extended to Muslim Filipinos. 
It shall likewise administer all programs, 
projects, and activities, and formulate the necessary rules and regulations, and 
coordinate with pertinent offices to ensure the success of the annual Hag 
(Pilgrimage) to Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition, the NCMF shall 
promote and supervise, in coordination with appropriate agencies of the 
government, the implementation of the Madrasah education system. 
This bill also provides for the various Bureaus of the Commission 
consisting of the Bureau of Economic Affairs, Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs, 
Bureau of Muslim Settlements, Bureau of External Relations, and the Bureau of 
Pilgrimage and Endowment. 
It is fervently hoped that through this bill, the rich Muslim culture will be 
preserved and the rights and well-being of Muslim Filipinos will be ensured. 
The passage of this bill is 


i3th Congress of the Republic 
) 
of the Philippines 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MUSLIM FILIPINOS, 
DEFINING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philppines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 77tle. This Act shall be known as the Act Creating The National 
Commission on Muslim Filipinos. 
SEC. 2. Declaration o f P o l c ~  It is henceforth the policy of the State to ensure 
the rights and well-being of Muslim Filipinos with due regard to their beliefs, customs, 
traditions and institutions, as well as to further ensure their contribution to national 
goals and aspirations and to make them active participants in nation-building. 
ARTICLE I 
Creation, Composition, and Term of Office of the Commission 
SEC. 3. Creation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos. In pursuance 
of the above-mentioned policy, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, 
hereinafter referred to as the Commission, is hereby created. 
The Commission which shall be under the Offce of the President, shall take over 
the functions of the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA), which is hereby abolished. It shall 
be subject to existing government rules, policies, and regulations. Its coverage shall be 
both local and national affairs involving Muslim Filipinos that includes the 
implementation of economic, educational, cultural, and infrastructure programs for 
Muslim Filipino communities. 
SEC. 4. Mandate. The Commission shall preserve and develop the culture, 
tradition, institutions, and well-being of Muslim Filipinos, in conformity with the 
country's laws and in consonance with national unity and development. 


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SEC. 5. Composition of the Commission. The Commission shall be composed of 
nine (9) full-time members who are Muslim Filipinos: Provided, That one (1) of the 
Commissioners shall come from the women sector and another Commissioner shall 
come from the Ulama (religious leader) sector: 
Provided, finally, That no two 
Commissioners shall come from the same Muslim Filipino tribe at any given time to 
ensure equitable representation in the Commission. 
The President shall appoint the regular members of the Commission. The 
Commissioners shall be academic degree holders and must speak and write fluently the 
English and/or Arabic languages. They shall be individuals who possess the highest 
degree of integrity and have the endorsement of their respective tribes. 
In no case shall the Commissioners appoint representatives to act on their 
behalf. 
The Commission may create a Council of Advisers to be composed of religious, 
traditional, and tribal leaders. The Council shall advise the Commission on matters 
pursuant to the Commission's mandate. 
SEC. 6. Term of Ofice. The Chairman, who shall be the Chief Executive Of'icer 
of the Commission and appointed by the President from among the nine (9) 
Commissioners, shall serve for a period of two (2) years. No Commissioner shall serve 
as Chairman for two (2) consecutive terms. The Chairmanship of the Commission shall 
then rotate among the nine (9) Commissioners to ensure that leadership in the 
Commission is not monopolized or dominated by one particular tribal group. 
The Commissioners shall have a term of office of six (6) years without prejudice 
to reappointment by the President. Of those first appointed, four (4) Commissioners 
shall hold office for three (3) years. 
Should a Commissioner fail to complete his or her term, the President shall 
appoint a successor from the tribe the Commissioner represents. The successor will 
only serve for the unexpired portion of the term. 
as those of a Department Secretary and Undersecretaries, respectively. 
The Chairman and the Commissioners shall have the rank, salary, and privileges 
SEC. 7. Removal from OHce, The President may remove any member of the 
Commission before the expiration of his/her term, upon the recommendation of any 
Muslim Filipino tribal group or sector or for cause after complying with the due process 
requirement of the law. 


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ARTICLE I1 
Powers and Functions of the Commission 
SEC. 8. Powers and Functions To accomplish its mandate, the Commission shall 
have the following powers and functions: 
(a) Provide advice and assistance to the President in the formulation, 
coordination, implementation and monitoring of policies, plans, programs 
and projects affecting Muslim Filipino communities; when so authorized, 
represent the President on matters concerning Muslim Filipino 
communities; serve as a link between the President and public or private 
agencies, internal or external, that are involved in such programs and 
projects; and recommend such affirmative actions as may be necessary 
for their efficient and effective implementation; 
(b) Undertake and coordinate development programs and projects for the 
advancement of Muslim Filipino communities, including designing, 
implementing and maintaining settlements for Muslim Filipino commu- 
nities; 
(c) Act as the primary government agency through which Muslim Filipinos can 
seek government assistance and redress; serve as the medium through 
which such assistance may be extended to Muslim Filipinos; for this 
purpose, the Commission is hereby authorized, subject to existing 
auditing rules and regulations, to give grants-in-aid out of its 
appropriations or other appropriate funds to cooperating government 
agencies for such programs or projects for the development of Muslim 
Filipino communities; provide services including legal assistance, medical 
aid, relief and other forms of assistance for socio-economic upliftment of 
Muslim Filipino communities; 
(d) Enter, subject to existing laws, policies and guidelines, into such 
contracts, agreements or arrangements with government or private 
agencies or entities as may be necessary to attain the objectives of the 
Commission; 
(e)In accordance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations then in force, 
and subject to guidelines provided by the President, promote and 
enhance the development of domestic trade and commerce among the 
members of the Muslim Filipino communities; or promote or facilitate the 
establishment by members of the Muslim Filipino communities of venture 


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and investments in cooperation or coordination with existing public 
enterprises, corporations or private entities, or subject to prior approval of 
the President, initiate and/or organize, in accordance with pertinent laws, 
rules and regulations then in force, enterprises based on the principles of 
Islamic business and finance consistent with existing policies and 
guidelines for the benefit and welfare of the regions of autonomy; 
(9 Recommend to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the 
proposed expenditure for the development of all Muslim Filipino 
communities; 
(9) Develop criteria for allocating additional resources for education, 
economic and cultural development programs; 
(h)Monitor and evaluate the performance of all existing policies and 
development programs of the government that seek to strengthen and 
uplift the socio-economic conditions of Muslim Filipinos and identify areas 
that need government intervention and support; 
(i) Acquire, lease or own such property or assets in whatever form as may be 
necessary, and sell or otherwise dispose of the same, and serve as the 
custodian or administrator of such lands or areas and other properties or 
assets the President may reserve for the benefit of Muslim Filipino 
communities; 
(j) Solicit and accept grants, donations and gifts, in cash or in kind, from 
whatever source, in coordination with the appropriate agency for the 
benefit of the Muslim Filipinos, and administer the same in accordance 
with the terms thereof, or in the absence of any condition, in such 
manner consistent with the interest of Muslim Filipinos as well as existing 
laws; 
(k) Undertake studies, establish and maintain ethnographic research centers 
and museums on the cultures and institutions of Muslim Filipinos for 
policy formulation and program implementation and for the purpose of 
preserving their historical heritage; 
(I) Certify, whenever appropriate, membership of persons in Muslim Filipino 
communities for purposes of establishing qualifications for specific 
requirements of government and private agencies or for benefits as may 
be provided by law; 
Conduct inspections or surveys, jointly with other appropriate 
agencies, and issue necessary certifications prior to the grant of any 
license, lease or permit for the exploitation of natural resources affecting 
the interests of Muslim Filipino communities or areas occupied by them; 
(m) 


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and in case of conflicts, recommend to the President appropriate action 
under the circumstances; 
(n) Provide legal and technical services for the survey, adjudication, titling, 
and development of Muslim Filipino ancestral lands and settlements 
proclaimed by the government for the Muslim Filipinos and issue 
certificate of ancestral land/domain title; 
(0) Administer all programs, projects, and activities, formulate the necessary 
rules and regulations, and coordinate with pertinent offices to ensure the 
success of the annual HaJJ (Pilgrimage) to Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia; 
(p) Promote the development of a HajjAssistance Fund that shall be created 
from contributions of Muslim Filipinos and other donors and which shall 
be used to support the financial needs of Muslim Filipinos intending to 
participate in the annual Ha3 
(4) Administer and hold in trust awqaf(endowment) properties and/or awqaf 
institutions, and receive by way of grant, donations or gifts, awqaf 
investments in accordance with the principles of Islamic investments and 
finance; 
(r) Prescribe rules and regulations for the establishment of awqafinstitutions, 
administration of awqafassets, and settlement of disputes among awqaf 
beneficiaries pursuant to the general principles of Shari’ah (Islamic Law); 
(s) Formulate and adopt continuing programs and activities to strengthen 
Madaris schools, Islamic Studies, and Shari’ah and Islamic jurisprudence, 
in coordination with appropriate agencies of the government. 
(t) Promote and supervise, in coordination with appropriate agencies of the 
government, the implementation of the Madrasah education system 
throughout the country except in the Autonomous Region in Muslim 
Mindanao (ARMM) where the system shall be implemented and 
supervised by the Department of 
Education-ARMM; and provide 
assistance in the expeditious accreditation of Madrasah educational 
institutions with the appropriate agencies of the government; 
(u)Ensure that the curriculum of the Madrasah education system shall 
conform with the basic curriculum of the national formal education system 
which along with teachings on Arabic Language, Islamic Studies, and 
Filipino and Islamic Values shall include, among others, the subjects on 
Filipino and English Grammar and Usage, Philippine History and 
Geography, Science and Technology, Mathematics, Physical Education 
and Sports Development, and Vocational Education to secure the local 


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and international competitiveness of Muslim Filipino graduates from the 
Madrasah educational institutions; 
(v) Develop criteria for the grant of local and foreign scholarships and the 
selection of deserving students and teachers of Madrasah educational 
institutions; 
in coordination with formal educational institutions here and abroad; 
(w) 
Provide local and foreign scholarships to deserving Muslim Filipinos 
(x) Ensure the continuous transfer of technology to Muslim Filipino 
communities to uplif& the quality of life of Muslim Filipinos; 
(y) Promulgate such rules and regulations and exercise such powers and 
functions as maybe necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives 
outlined in this Act; and 
(z) Perform such other functions as may be necessary for its effective 
operations and continued enhancement as a government entity. 
SEC. 9. Administrative Supetvision and ControL The administrative supervision 
and control over the personnel, except the Commissioners, and the properties of the 
Commission shall be vested in the Chairman. Except for Presidential appointees, the 
appointment of and imposition of disciplinary measures on the same personnel shall 
likewise be vested in the Chairman who shall accomplish the same in consultation with 
the Commissioners, except that when the administrative charge entails, considering the 
circumstances alleged in the complaint, the penalty of dismissal from the service, the 
decision thereon shall be by the majority of all the members of the Commission. The 
Chairman shall exercise administrative supervision over the Commissioners. 
The 
Commissioners shall assist the Chairman in the performance of his functions, who may 
assign or delegate specific and substantive or administrative responsibilities to any of 
them. 
SEC. 10. Organizational Structure, The Commission shall be composed of the 
Offices of the Chairman, the Commissioners, the Executive Director and the Deputy 
Executive Director and their immediate staff, the Bureaus, Services, Regional Offices, 
Field Offices and Sub-offices. 
SEC 11. Bureaus. The Bureaus of the Commission shall consist of the Bureau of 
Economic Affairs, Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs, Bureau of Muslim Settlements, 
Bureau of External Relations, and the Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment. Each of 
these Bureaus shall be headed by a Director who shall hold the same rank, salary, and 
privileges of a Staff Bureau Director. 


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(a) 
Bureau of Economic Affairs. This Bureau shall promote and 
develop economic livelihood programs and projects through 
extension of loans, entrepreneurship, trade and marketing assistance 
to the members of Muslim Filipino communities. It shall also be 
responsible for the promotion and development of cooperative 
endeavors among Muslim Filipinos in coordination with the 
Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). It shall likewise promote 
and implement manpower training and community self-help projects 
for the economic development of Muslim Filipinos. 
(b) Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs. This Bureau shall be 
responsible for the conduct of research and studies on the cultural 
development of Muslim Filipino communities which would serve as 
the basis for policy and plans formulation, program and project 
implementation. 
It shall formulate and implement an education program especially 
designed to improve the literacy level of Muslim Filipinos and 
maintain a central library, museum and audio-visual center to serve 
as repositories of information on the Muslim Filipino peoples. 
It shall be responsible for the Madrasah institutions in the country 
wherein it will assist and facilitate the applications for registration 
and accreditation with the Department of Education (DepEd). It shall 
also oversee the conduct of the Annual Quofan Reading 
Competition. 
(c) 
Bureau of Muslim Settlement. This Bureau shall be responsible 
for the promotion and development of Muslim Filipino settlements in 
coordination with concerned agencies of the government. 
(d) Bureau of External Relations. This Bureau shall be responsible in 
forging 
linkages 
among 
Muslim 
Filipino 
communities 
and 
organizations within and outside the country. The Bureau shall also 
serve as the political arm of the Commission. 


I 
8 
(e) Bureau of Pilgri age and Endowment. This Bureau shall be 
primarily responsi 1 
le for the administration of the annual Muslim 
pilgrimage to Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and the formulation 
and implementation of programs, projects and activities for the 
efficient and effective administration and supervision of the conduct 
of pilgrimage activities; Provided, That, the supervision accorded the 
Bureau under this Section shall not include control. 
In pursuance of the above responsibilities, the Bureau shall formulate 
the necessary guidelines to ensure the timely processing of the 
pilgrim's travel documents and the equitable and reasonable 
collection of fees. Such collection shall only be limited to mutawiff 
and the processing of passport and pertinent documents. Collected 
fees shall be deposited in a special trust fund which shall be 
established by the Commission. The expenses from which shall be 
subject to existing auditing laws, rules and regulations. 
The pilgrims shall be accorded free choice of travel agencies and 
airlines or other means of transportation to and from the site of 
Pilgrimage: Provided, That pilgrims comply with the prescribed arrival 
and departure schedule fixed by the Ministry of Hajjof the Kingdom 
of Saudi Arabia; Provided, further, That all pilgrims shall be 
legitimate holders of round-trip tickets to and from the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia. The Bureau shall also accredit qualified and deserving 
shiekhs. It shall also formulate, subject to the approval of the 
Commission, the timetable of annual Ha> activities which must be 
posted in all areas accessible to Muslim Filipinos. 
The Bureau shall likewise be responsible for the administration of 
awqaf (endowment) properties and institutions, and the conduct of 
research and studies for the establishment and maintenance of Hag 
towns, Islamic centers and awqafprojects. 
SEC. 12. Services. 
The Services of the Commission shall consist of the 
Administrative Service, Finance Management Service, Planning Service and Legal 
Service, each of which shall be headed by a Staff Director with the same rank, salary, 
and privileges of an Assistant Staff Bureau Director. 


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(a) 
Administrative Service. This Service shall be responsible for 
providing the Commission with efficient and effective staff services 
relating to personnel, information, records, supplies, equipment, 
collection, disbursement, security and custodial work. 
(b) 
Finance and Management Service. 
This Service shall be 
responsible for providing the Commission with efficient and 
effective staff advice and assistance on budgetary, financial and 
management matters. 
Planning Service. This Service shall be responsible for providing 
the Commission with efficient and effective staff services relating to 
planning, monitoring, and evaluation of programs and projects. 
(d) 
Legal Service. 
The Legal Service shall be responsible for 
providing Muslim Filipinos with legal education and assistance in 
case of litigation involving their persons or interests; act as the 
legal counsel of the Commission; and investigate cases involving its 
personnel and submit appropriate recommendations pertaining 
thereto. 
(c) 
ni 
SEC. 13. Regional Ofices, Held 0 ces, Sub-ofices The Commission is hereby 
authorized to establish, operate, and malintain Regional Offices in such appropriate 
administrative regions of the country, each of which shall be headed by a Regional 
Director. A Regional Office shall have, within its administrative region, the following 
Implement laws, rules, regulations, policies, programs, and projects 
of the Commission; 
Establish regional and provincial HaJ coordinating and monitoring 
units; 
Provide efficient and effective service to Muslim Filipinos; 
Coordinate with regional offices and agencies of the executive 
department; 
Coordinate with local government units; and 
Perform such other functions as may be provided by law. 
Commission is likewise authorized to establish, operate, maintain, and 
the functions of field offices and sub-offices, whenever necessary, 
appropriate and feasible. 


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SEC. 14. The Secretariat The Commission shall organize a Secretariat that shall 
assist the Chairman in the performance of his functions and shall serve as the technical 
arm of the Commission. It shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall be 
appointed by the President. The Executive Director shall execute the policies and 
programs of the Commission and shall be responsible for the efficient and effective day- 
to-day management of the operations of the Commission. 
The Executive Director shall recommend to the Chairman, for approval of the 
Commission, the budget of the Secretariat, its staffing pattern, position classification 
and compensation scheme, and the appointment of its personnel subject to existing 
laws, rules and regulations. 
for cause in accordance with law. 
The Executive Director shall enjoy security of tenure and may only be removed 
SEC. 15. Ha) Attache. The President shall appoint a Hajj Attache from among 
the three (3) recommendees of the Commission. The HajjAttache shall coordinate with 
the Ministry of Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on all matters pertaining to the 
conduct of the annual HaJ 
He shall hold office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and 
shall enjoy the same rank, salary, and privileges as those of attaches of the national 
government. 
SEC. 16. Amirul Hajj, 
The President shall appoint the Chairman of the 
Commission as the Amirul Ha) who shall serve as the representative of the President 
and as the head of the Muslim Filipino pilgrims who will attend the annual Ha& 
SEC. 17. Change of Pilgrim‘s Name. The Commission shall authenticate the 
certification which is issued by the HaJAttache and the Ministry of HaJof the Kingdom 
of Saudi Arabia and which provides a Muslim name to a pilgrim. The authentication 
issued by the Commission, which shall contain both the pilgrim’s registered name in the 
Philippine Civil Registry and his newly-issued Muslim name, shall then be legally 
recognized by the national government as valid for all intents and purposes. 
ARTICLE I11 
Appropriations, Management and Administration 
SEC. 18. Appropiations The amount necessary for the initial implementation of 
this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the Office on 
Muslim Affairs. 
Thereafter, such sums as may be needed for the continued 
implementation of the Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 


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SEC. 19. Record of Transaction, The Commission shall keep proper accounts and 
records of all its transactions and affairs, and shall exert all efforts to ensure that all 
payments made out of its moneys are correctly made and properly authorized, and that 
adequate control is maintained over the assets of, or in the custody of, the Commission 
and the expenditures it may incur. The Commission shall be subject to audit by COA. 
SEC. 20. Civil Service law Coverage for Employees. The hiring, appointment, 
employment, promotion, disciplinary control, separation, and other terms and 
conditions of the service of all employees of the Commission and such other matter 
affecting its employees shall be consistent with the provisions of the Civil Service Law, 
rules and regulations. 
SEC. 21. GSIS Coverage for Emp/oyees. All employees of the Commission shall 
be deemed members of the Government Service Insurance System and shall enjoy all 
the benefits of said System. 
SEC. 22. Transitoory ProvMons, Upon the creation of the Commission, the OMA 
shall cease to operate. All the powers, functions, assets, liabilities, capital, accounts, 
contracts, equipment, and facilities of the OMA which are owned by the government, 
shall be transferred to the Commission. 
During the transition period which begins upon approval of this Act, the 
President may appoint the incumbent Executive Director of the OMA as Acting Chairman 
of the Commission until the Chairman of the Commission shall have been appointed. 
All regular or permanent employees may be absorbed or transferred to the 
Commission, provided they possess the necessary qualifications, and shall not suffer 
any loss of seniority or rank or decrease in emoluments. 
Employees separated and/or phased-out from the service as a result of the 
abolition of the OMA under the provision of this Act, shall within three (3) months from 
their separation and/or phase-out from the service, receive a separation pay in 
accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. 
In addition, those who are 
qualified to retire shall be allowed to retire and be entitled to all benefits provided under 
any of the existing retirement laws. The fund of the Commission maybe used to fund 
this purpose. 
The Chairman shall recommend to the Commission a work program that shall 
include the organizational plan and structure, staffing pattern and compensation plan, 
budget, programs, projects, activities of the Commission within ninety (90) days from 


12 
the approv;. 
of tb 
Act. Said work program shall b implemented by the Chairman 
within thirty (30) days after its approval by the Commission and the President. 
SEC. 23. Periodc Pedormance Evaluation. The Chairman is hereby required to 
formulate and enforce a system of measuring and evaluating periodically and 
objectively the performance of the Commission and submit the same annually to the 
President. 
SEC. 24. Separabiilily Clause, If for any reason, any section or provision of this 
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other section or provisions hereof, which 
are not affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect. 
SEC. 25. Repealing Clause, 
Executive Order No. 122-A, as amended by 
Executive Order No. 295 is hereby repealed. All other acts, decrees, instructions, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are also 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 26. Effectivity Clause, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,