Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________
Introduced by HON. MUJIV S. HATAMAN
of the Lone District of Basilan
EXPLANATORY NOTE
THE 1987 Philippine Constitution guarantees the Freedom of Religion or the free
exercise thereof. Section 5, Article 3 of the Constitution provides that “no law shall be made
respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free
exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or
preference, shall forever be allowed.”
The performance of Hajj or the annual pilgrimage to the Holy City of Makkah, Saudi
Arabia is one of the Five fundamental Pillars of Islam. Muslims in the Philippines and around
the world who are able and capable of performing hajj are obligated to do so at least once in
their lifetime. Therefore, the performance of Hajj is purely a religious matter that should be
left without government interference.
The recent issues surrounding the plight of Filipino Muslim pilgrims during the 2023
Hajj in Saudi Arabia brought to light, yet again, the years of poor treatment of Filipino
pilgrims suffering from poor living conditions, delayed and substandard meals, and delayed
transportation, among others. These services are provided or facilitated by the National
Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF); a service Filipino Pilgrims paid for at high costs.
Despite paying quite a huge sum of money, Filipino Pilgrims were not provided with
adequate hotel accommodations, oftentimes cramming several persons in a small hotel room.
Worse, their meals were given late or hours after the scheduled eating time. As if this
ordeal is not enough, hundreds – if not thousands – of Filipino Muslim pilgrims were left
stranded at Mudzdalifa because the NCMF-contracted buses that were supposed to take them
did not arrive.
September 7, 2023
6:36 pm
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It is the contention of this representation that these difficulties and discomfort should
never be allowed to plague our pilgrims who will be embarking on this once-in-a-lifetime
experience during hajj.
It is clear that NCMF is not in a position to cater to the needs of Filipino Muslim
pilgrims. For years already, NCMF failed to provide the required services during hajj.
Therefore, there is a need to unburden NCMF with this task.
The conduct, processing and facilitation of the hajj for Muslim Filipinos should be left
to the competence of the private sector whose expertise and experiences in hajj would ensure
that our pilgrims will be provided with the best services. This bill aims to do just that.
Amending Republic Act No. 9997 or the NCMF Law is now necessary, and the
approval of this measure is highly sought.
HON. MUJIV S. HATAMAN
Representative
Lone District, Basilan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________
Introduced by HON. MUJIV S. HATAMAN
of the Lone District of Basilan
AN ACT
AMENDING
REPUBLIC
ACT
NO.
9997,
OTHERWISE
KNOWN
AS
THE
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MUSLIM FILIPINOS ACT OF 2009, TO PROVIDE
BETTER SERVICES TO MUSLIM FILIPINO PILGRIMS DURING HAJJ, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as “The NCMF Reform Act of
2023”.
SECTION 2. The powers and functions of NCMF over annual hajj administration as
provided in R.A. No. 9997 is hereby removed. Hence, Section 11, Article II of Republic Act
No. 9997 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 11. Bureaus. - The Bureaus of the Commission shall consist of the
Bureau of Muslim Economic Affairs, Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs,
Bureau of Muslim Settlement, Bureau of External Relations, Bureau of
Endowment, Bureau of Peace and Conflict Resolution, and the Bureau of
Legal Affairs. Each of these Bureaus shall be headed by a Director who shall
hold the same rank, salary, and privileges of a Staff Bureau Director. The
Bureau Director shall be appointed by the President from among the names or
nominees submitted by the Commission to the President.
(a) xxx
xxx
xxx
(b) xxx
xxx
xxx
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(c) xxx
xxx
xxx
(d) xxx
xxx
xxx
(e) Bureau of Endowment. - This Bureau shall be primarily responsible for
the administration of awqaf  properties and institutions, and the conduct of
research and studies for the establishment and maintenance of Islamic centers
and awqaf projects.
(f) xxx
xxx
xxx
(g) xxx
xxx
xxx
The NCMF shall no longer perform any powers and functions relative to the
administration of hajj except to register and accredit sheiks, who are private
individuals or entities engaged in facilitating, processing, and providing
guidance for the annual hajj for Muslim Filipinos in Makkah, Saudi
Arabia.
SECTION 3. Section 15 of Republic Act No. 9997 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
“Section 15. Hajj Attache. - The President shall appoint a Hajj Attache from
among the three (3) recommendees of the Commission within fifteen (15) days from
the submission of such recommendees by the Commission. The Hajj Attache shall
coordinate with the Ministry of Hajj of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on matters
pertaining to the conduct of the annual Hajj where government-to-government
action is necessary including certification as to change of Pilgrims’s name, but not
to intervene in the administration, conduct, facilitation or processing of hajj for
Muslim Filipinos. He/She shall be an academic degree holder and must be able to
write and speak fluently the Arabic language. He/She shall hold office in the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia and shall enjoy the same rank, salary, and privileges as those of
Attache of the national government.
SECTION 4. Section 16 of Republic Act No. 9997 is hereby DELETED.
SECTION 5. Separability Clause – If any part or provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions which are not affected thereby shall continue to
be in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly.
SECTION 7. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,