FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No.
2089
introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL
F. ZUBlRl
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 5, Article 111 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, "The free exercise
and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference,
shall forever be allowed."
In pursuance of this Constitutional mandate, the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA)
was created in 1987 by virtue of Executive Order No. 122-A as amended by Executive
Order No. 295. It is the agency mandated to uplift and improve the conditions of the
Muslim Filipinos and tasked to address the various issues facing Muslim Communities
comprising almost 5% of the total population.
It has been more than 20 years since the organization of this office and there is
now a need to revisit the charter of OMA, expand its present mandate and address the
diverse needs of Muslim Filipinos. This bill seeks to create a National Commission on
Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) which will replace and take over the functions of the Office on
Muslim Affairs, to include not just to preserve and to develop the culture, traditions,
institutions and well-being of Muslim Filipinos, but likewise to coordinate and consfilt
with various government agencies, and to oversee the proper implementation of all laws
and policies that affect Muslim Filipinos.
In view of the importance of this proposed legislation in addressing the needs of
our Muslim brothers and sisters, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.