Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HousE-blLLNo.8872
kelrodaced by Rep. Si.ttie Amina]} Q. Dimaporo
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As one of the Five Pillars of Islani, the conduct of tlie ZJaj7., the amual pilgrrinage to
Mecca, Ki.ngdom of Saudi Arabia, is a relictous obligation for all Muslims that must be carlicd
out  at  least  once  in their lifetine by  all  adult  Muslims who  are  physically  and financiall,v
capable. As the Philippines has a significant number of Muslim Fihpinos among its populatiort,
it is therefore reasonable for the national government to include a program to facilitate the
conduct of this annual pilgrimage, throuch the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.
However,theannualfrcgiv.'operati.onshasbeenplaguedwithproblemsandcontroversies
pereunially. It is the alm of this bill to provide a proactive solution to most of these problems,
particularly in securing the issuance of the Hcrj7. Visas from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, sign
contracts  with  service  providers,   enforce  the  strict  accreditation  and  licensing  of  f7cr//.
Pilgrimage Guides, and provide a Z7cz/j. Pilgrimage credit line to ensure the timely payments t``f
the financial requirement as imposed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is also the objective
of this ]ectslative measure to require the Nchff to issue an armual Manual of Operations for
the fJczj7. Pilgrimage that shall be the basis for the strict compliance of processes to avoid the
problems of the previous Hczjj. operations.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought
2nd District, I,anao del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
chezon city
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
•`.-.-',
HOUSE BILL NO. 6672
Iutrodiiced by Rep. Sittie Aminah Q. Dim_a!perg_
AN ACT
AMENDING SHCTION 11 (e) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9997 0THERWISH KNOWN
AS THE NATIONAL COMMISSION 0N MUSLIM FILIPINOS ACT 0F 2009, T0
PROVIDE   BETTER   SHRVICH   FOR  THE   HAJJ  PILGRIMAGE   0F   MUSLIM
FILIPINOS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERHFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be  it  enacted dy  the  Senate  and the  House  Of Represerttatives  Of the  Philippines,  in
(`,(.)ngress assembled..
SECTION I. S#orf rj.J/e. -This Act shall be known as "Hajj Pi]gimage Reform Act
of2023„.
SECTION 2.  Section 11  (e) of Republic Act No.  9997 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"(e)  Bureau  Of Pilgrirmge  and  Endowment  ~  This  BureTpr  ?hall be
[SOLELY] responsible for the administration of the amual Muslim pilgrimage to
Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia;  and the fomulation and implementation of
programs, projects and activities for the efficient and effective administration and
supervision of the conduct of pilgrimage activities.. P7.ov7.decz, That the supervision
accorded  the  Bureau  under  this  section  shall  not  include  control.   [Provz.cJec7,
./itr/frer,  TIIAT IN THE ABSENCE OF THE DIRECTOR 0F THE BUREAU,
THE  ERECUTIVE  DIRECTOR  OF  THE  Nchff   SIIALL  ASSUME  THE
RESPONSIBILITIES   OF  THE  DIRECTOR  OF   THE  BPE  AND  IN  THE
ABSENCE OF  THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,  TIH  SECRETARY OF THE
NCMF SHALL ASsuhAI THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF
THE BPE: ProvJ.cJecJ,fi#c7//y, THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT APPOINTED
THE SECRETARY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE BPE,
THE HAJJ PILGRIMAGE FOR THAT YEAR CANNOT TAKE PLACE.]
[THE BPE shall also create the Haul Pilgrinage Finance 'Committee, which is
responsible for certifying the financial reports in regards to the utilization and
collection of Haij  Pilgrimage  funds.  The members  of the  Committee  shall  be
composed of one (I ) Budget Officer, one (1 ) Accountant, and one (1) Treasurer,
who   are   organic   persormel  withing   the   NCMF,   and   follow   the   position
requirements defined by the Civil Service Commission.I
Pursuanttotheaboveresponsibilities,theBureaushallformulatethenecessaly
guidelines to ensure the timely processing of the pilgrim's travel documents and


the equitable and reasonable collection of fees [which shall be called the Amual
Haij  Manual  of Op?ra.tions,  and  shall  b?  published  and  posted  in  all  areas
accessible to  Muslim Filipinos not later than two  (2) months before  the  Hajj,
/Jrov7decJ. that the Armual Hajj Manual of Operations shall be approved by the
NCMF  en-banc.]  Such  collection  [of  fees]  shall  be  limited  to mutawiffand
passporting and/or processing fees  only.  Collected  fees  shall  be  deposited  in a
special  trust fund which  shall be established by  the  Commission,  the  expenses
from which shall tte subject to existing auditing laws, rules and regulations.
[THE NCMF Secretary shall have sole authority to sign and negotiate contracts
for the successful conduct of the Haij and shall be exempted from the provisions
of  the  Government  Procurement  Act  when  public  funds  from  the  General
Appropriations Act_ are not involved: Prow;.de4 that the authority to sign contracts
shall be approved by the Commission en-banc in a fom of a resolution.]
The pilgrims shall be accorded free choice of travel agencies and airlines or
other means of transportation to and from the site of pilgrimage: Prov7.c7ec7, That
pilgrims comply with the prescribed arrival and departure schedule fixed by the
Ministry of Hajj of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. `[The DOTr, DFA and Nchff
shall  coordinate  to  ensure  that  flights  for the  purpose  of the  Hajj  Pilgrimage
confirm to the schedule approved by the NCMF en-banc. The DOTR, CAAP and
other agencies shall prohibit flichts to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of Haij which
are not scheduled and approved by the Nchff en-banc for the purpose of better
coordination, ainva] and monjtchng Qf pj]gn.ms from the Ph].lippl.nes]: Provj.c7ecz
/zjr/foe7., That all pilgrims shall be legitimate holders of found- tip tickets to and
from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Prov7.cfec7, /#r/¢e777core, That the pilgrims shall
be free to choose on where to purchase or acquire other logistics, materials and
supplies for the pilgrimage.
[The pilgrims, throuch their sheikhs, shall/may have the power to choose their
hotel, accommodations, and other service providers for the duration of the Hajj
Pilrimage, considering that there is coordination with the NCMF, the sheikhs shall
consolidate themselves into ten ( 10) representatives to negotiate on behalf of the
Phil ippine Haul Delegation. ]
In no instance shall the pilgrinis be forced to purchase such logistics, materials
and supplies from the Commission or its authorized agents or representatives.
The   Bureau   shall   also   accredit   qualified   and   deserving   sheikhs.   [The
requirements and licensure exams shall be stipulated in the Annual Haul Manual
of Operations.  The  Bureau,  throuch the NCMF,  shall  be  authorized `to  charge
licensure and accreditation fees, subject to the approval  of the Commission en-
banc.  The  fees  shall  amount  to  the  operational  expense  for the  licensure  and
accreditation prcoess.]
The    Bureau    shall    likewise    be    responsible    for    the    administration
of awqaf properies and institutions, and the conduct of research and studies for
the      establishment     `and     maintenance      ofHaijtowns,      Islamic      centers
and awqaf projects. "


SECTroN   3.   Hdi   Pilgrimage   Fmimancing   Options.   -   Gore;;"nen  Financiiil
lnstitutionsand/orLocalGovemmentUhitsshallprovideacreditlinethroughtheAmanaBank
or Land Bank, to allow NCMF the financial requirement to conduct the Hajj.
(a)  The  Slieikh  Credit  Line  -  The  Hajj  Pilgimage  Sheikhs  may  apply  for  a  Hajj
Pilgrimage Financing throuch Amana Bank. The purpose of the credit line would
be to ensure timely paymen`t for the hotel and accommodations/service providers
for the upcoming Haul. The Credit line cannot be used for flichts. The payment for
service providers has to be in coordination with the NCMF. The credit-worthiness
of each individual sheikhs shall be detemined by standard banking practices and/or
existing policies of the Amanah Bank.
(b) The NCMF Revolving Fund - The NchAI may  operationalize a revolving fulid
from  the national  goverrment or the local  government units  for the purpose  of
conducting a successful hajj pi.I'grinage. The revolving fund shall be in the foni of
a credit line from government financial institutions. The maximum allowable credit
to the NCMF shall not exceed the three-year average for the total Hajj expenses.
TheDepartmentofFinanceortheMDFOmayplaceinaGFItimedepositasaforin
of collateral  for the NCMF  credit  line.  The  NCP\ff  may  engage  with the local
government units to deposit their funds in a GFI tine deposit as a fom of collateral
for the Hajj revolving frod.
SECTION  4.  H¢j/. Pi./gri.mirgr fpecr.a/ 4wdz.f.  -  The  Commission  on  Audit  shall
conduct a special audit on the annual hajj, the audit report sliall be submitted to the Committee
on Muslim Affairs no more than 90 days after the completion of the Hajj .
SECTION 5. 4apnaprz.¢frous. - The amount necessary to inplement the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
SECTro¥ 6.. .I.xplemgnti_ng Rules and Regulations (IRR)-Within ninety (90) days
from the approval of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the Department of Budget
and  Management,  shall  promulgate  the necessary niles  and  regulations  to  implement  the
provisions of this Act.
SECTION 7.  Sep¢rabz./rty C/¢wSc. -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 Jeffect.
SECTION  8.   J[epco/I.Hg  C7¢#Se. -  AIl  laws,  decrees,  orders,  issuances,  rules  and
regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly.
SHCTION  9.   Ejorjorec#.1;rty. -  This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its
publication I.n the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved`