QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 9997)
RA 9997 is known as the “National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Act of 2009.” Its policy is to ensure the rights and well-being of Muslim Filipinos with due regard to their beliefs, customs, traditions, and institutions, while ensuring their contribution to national goals and making them active participants in nation-building.
The Commission takes over the functions of the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA), which is hereby abolished.
To preserve and develop the culture, tradition, institutions, and well-being of Muslim Filipinos, conforming with the country’s laws and in consonance with national unity and development.
The Commission is composed of nine (9) full-time Muslim Filipino members headed by a Secretary. One Commissioner must come from the women sector, one from the youth sector, and another from the Ulama sector. No more than two Commissioners may come from the same Muslim Filipino tribe at any given time. Commissioners must be academic degree holders, must speak and write fluently in English and/or Arabic, must possess the highest degree of integrity, and must have endorsement of their respective tribes or sectors.
No. “In no case shall the Commissioners appoint representatives to act on their behalf.”
The Secretary serves for two (2) years without prejudice to reappointment. For the initial set of Commissioners: the first five (5) have a four (4)-year term, and the remaining four (4) have a two (2)-year term. Thereafter, succeeding Commissioners serve for a full four (4)-year term.
The President may remove any member of the Commission before expiration for cause and after observance of the proper due process required by pertinent laws.
The Commission shall not take jurisdiction or ownership over lands and bodies of water traditionally and actually occupied by indigenous peoples within identified ancestral domains of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
The Commission acts as the primary government agency where Muslim Filipinos can seek government assistance and redress; serves as the medium through which assistance may be extended; may provide legal assistance, medical aid, relief, rehabilitation, and other socioeconomic upliftment assistance; and may give grants-in-aid out of its appropriations or other funds to cooperating government agencies for development of Muslim Filipino communities.
The Commission shall participate in the peace process involving conflicts between Filipino Muslim groups and/or individuals and the government. The Commission’s Secretary or duly designated representative shall sit as a regular member of the government’s peace panel negotiating peace with Muslim Filipino groups or individuals.
The Commission administers programs/projects/activities and coordinates with pertinent offices to ensure the success of the annual Hajj. It also promotes development of a Hajj Assistance Fund from contributions of Muslim Filipinos and other donors for deserving Muslim Filipinos intending to participate in the annual Hajj.
Fee collection is limited to mutawiff and passporting/processing fees only, deposited in a special trust fund subject to auditing. Pilgrims have free choice of travel agencies and airlines/means of transportation, subject to Saudi Ministry of Hajj arrival/departure schedules and requirement of legitimate holders of round-trip tickets. Pilgrims are not forced to purchase logistics/materials/supplies from the Commission or its authorized agents.
The Commission promotes and supervises implementation of the Madrasah education system in coordination with appropriate agencies of the government, except in ARMM where the system is implemented and supervised by the Department of Education-ARMM.
The curriculum must conform with the basic curriculum of the national formal education system, and include teachings on Arabic language, Islamic studies, and Filipino and Islamic values, with subjects including Filipino and English grammar/usage, Philippine history and geography, science and technology, mathematics, physical education and sports, and vocational education.
OMA is deemed abolished upon creation of the Commission, and its powers/functions/assets/liabilities/contracts/equipment/facilities owned by government transfer to the Commission. Employees of OMA are absorbed/transferred to the Commission if qualified, without loss of seniority/rank or decrease in emoluments. No career-service officer/employee is removed except for a valid cause and after notice and hearing. Those phased out receive separation pay and those qualified may retire; funds of the Commission may be used to fund separation.
Employee hiring/appointment, promotion, disciplinary control, separation, and related terms must be consistent with the Civil Service Law and CSC rules. All employees are deemed members of GSIS and enjoy benefits of said System.