Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

20" CONGRESS
1st Regular Session

wousesnino. 3485

Introduced by Representative SITTIE SHAHARA “BAI DIMPLE” I. MASTURA

ANACT
MANDATING THE ALLOTMENT OF A PRAYER ROOM FOR MUSLIMS IN EVERY GOVERNMENT
BUILDING, MILITARY CAMP, HOTEL, HOSPITAL, MALL, FACTORY, AND OTHER BUSINESS
ESTABLISHMENTS, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that everyone has the right to
freedom of thought, conscience and religion; including freedom to change their religion or belief, and
freedom - either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest their religion
or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

‘The UDHR was adopted by the United Nations in 1948 and because of its consequent achievements,
the International Covenant on Civil and Politicat Rights and the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights were ratified in 1976. The UDHR and the two (2) covenants comprise the
International Bill of Human Rights.

Consistent with international law, the 1987 Philippine Constitution, in Section 5, Article Ill provides
that no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof, and that the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without
discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed.

Christianity accounts for almost 90% of the religious landscape in the Philippines, followed by Islam
with 6%. Due to the predominance of Christianity, many establishments and buildings, hospitals and
even malls, be it government-owned, private or for the benefit of the public, have chapels or areas
reserved for worship and prayers that cater to their faithful.

‘Muslim Filipinos in real numbers range anywhere from 6.1 million to as high as 6.5 million and are
without doubt present in almost all provinces of the country. Islamic worship is woven into the daily
life of a Muslim, required to pray five (5) times a day to maintain our spiritual connection with Allah,
the Most Merciful as we remind ourselves of our ultimate purpose in life.


The five (5) daily prayers namely: “Fajr” or morning prayer which starts at dawn and ends at
sunrise; “Dhuhr’, the midday or afternoon prayer; “Asr” or the late afternoon prayer and ends
just before sunset; “Maghrib”, the sunset prayer which starts just after sunset and ends when
‘twilight has disappeared; and “Isha” or the night prayer which starts from the disappearance
of twilight and ends just before midnight.

This call to prayer or “Salah” is one of the most important obligations of the Islamic faith and
must be done in a designated prayer room, where the faithful can seek guidance, forgiveness
and demonstrate their faithfulness.

In any religion, prayer is one of the highest forms of worship and for the Islamic faithful this
call to prayer must be complied with wherever we may be.

This bill therefore seeks to mandate the establishment of at least one (1) prayer room in every
government building, hospital, military camp, and when applicable, even in privately-owned
establishments such as malls, factories, hospitals and hotels.

This measure when enacted will greatly ease the burden our Muslim brothers and sisters are
confronted with when there are no permanent prayer rooms available where they are called
to prayers.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. _.

‘Maguindanao del Nofte, Lone District


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

20" CONGRESS
1st Regular Session

wouseauino.3485

Introduced by Representative SITTIE SHAHARA “BAI DIMPLE” |. MASTURA.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE ALLOTMENT OF A PRAYER ROOM FOR MUSLIMS IN EVERY GOVERNMENT
BUILDING, MILITARY CAMP, HOTEL, HOSPITAL, MALL, FACTORY, AND OTHER BUSINESS
ESTABLISHMENTS, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
Assembled:

SECTION 1. There shall be allotted at least one (1) place of worship or prayer room for
‘Muslims in every government building, military camp, hotel, hospital, mall, factory and other
business establishments, institutions, public or private.

SEC. 2. Within sixty (60) days upon approval of this Act, the National Commission on Muslim
Filipinos (NCMF), in consultation with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of National Defense (OND), and a representative
from the business sector, shail formulate the necessary rules and regulations to implement
this Act.

SEC. 3 All laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

‘SEC. 4 This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,