FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
)
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7 JUL -4 i!2 :i;:r
1
S.B. No.
SENAv30
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MUSLIM FILIPINOS DEFINING
ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURP. OSES
Be it enacted b y the Senate and the House of Representative of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
Sec. 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Act Creating the National
Commission on Muslim Filipinos".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is henceforth the policy of the State to insure 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.
ARTICLES I
Creation, Composition, 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, herein
after referred to as the Commission, is hereby created.
The Commission shall be an independent, autonomous body, and will 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 and cultural 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. Likc +rise, the
Commission shall coordinate and consult with various government agencies, and
oversee the proper implementation of all laws and policies that affect Muslim Filipinos.
Sec. 5. Composition of the Commission. The Commission shall be composed of
nine (9) full-time members who are Muslim Filipinos: Provided that, two (2) of the
Commissioner shall each come from the women and the Ulama (religious leader) sector;
and: Providedfinally that, equitable representation from all Muslim tribes shall, as far as
practicable, be ensured at any given time.