Background and Rationale
- Philippine Government’s ongoing commitment to uplift the living conditions of Muslim Filipinos as part of national development.
- Recognition and support from the Islamic Conference expressing willingness to assist the Philippines.
- Decision to maximize benefits from such assistance through exclusive agency management.
Composition and Leadership
- Chairperson: Ambassador Lininding P. Pangandaman, Assistant Secretary for Islamic Affairs.
- Vice Chairperson: Dr. Cesar A. Majul, Chairman of the Philippine Amanah Bank.
- Members include Commissioner Romulo Espaldon (Region IX) and Commissioner Simeon Datumanong (Region XII).
Duties and Responsibilities
- Identify priority areas qualifying for assistance from the Islamic Conference.
- Communicate these priorities and required types and extent of assistance to the Islamic Conference via the Department of Foreign Affairs.
- Coordinate mobilization of domestic resources to support priority areas identified.
- Utilize assistance, including support for victims of natural calamities within the priority areas.
- Monitor progress and implementation status of relief and development efforts.
- Provide status updates and reports to the Islamic Conference through the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Secretariat and Support
- The Office of Islamic Affairs under the Department of Foreign Affairs serves as the secretariat for the Agency.
- The Agency may request and obtain assistance from other government agencies to fulfill its duties.
Repeal and Abolition of Previous Agency
- Executive Order No. 432 (August 30, 1974) is repealed.
- Filipino Muslim Welfare and Relief Agency is abolished.
- All records and files of the abolished agency are transferred to the newly created Agency for the Development and Welfare of Muslims in the Philippines.
Legal Authority and Formalization
- The creation is pursuant to powers vested in the President by the Constitution.
- Signed and enacted by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on October 26, 1976, in Manila.