IN OBSERVANCE of annual pilgrimage rites, Malacañang encouraged the Muslim community on Wednesday, February 13, to avail themselves of "reformed and improved" services of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).
This was the call of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, as Muslims worldwide take part in Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
"We encourage Muslim Filipinos to avail [themselves] of the reformed and improved services of the NCMF and fulfill their spiritual aspiration of making a special pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia," the Palace official said in a statement.
This year, roughly 8,000 Muslim Filipinos are expected to observe Hajj, Panelo noted.
The Hajj is the fifth of the fundamental Muslim practices and institutions known as the Five Pillars of Islam.
Panelo guaranteed that the Duterte government, through the NCMF, was ready to give assistance to the Muslim Filipinos.
"The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and we understand that the singular wish of any devout Muslim is to make a special pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime. The Government of the Philippines under the Duterte administration has made that wish a step closer to reality," he said.
"We are pleased to inform our Muslim Filipino brethren, particularly the expected 6,000 to 8,000 pilgrims who will be performing the Hajj this year, that the Office of the President, through the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, has made significant strides in advancing their welfare," he added.
Panelo bragged that the NCMF has been successful in negotiating with authorities of Saudi Arabia with regard to the accommodation of Filipino pilgrims.
In this year’s Hajj, he said Filipino pilgrims would be billeted only in four-star and five-star hotels in Saudi Arabia, "a marked improvement from substandard accommodations in previous years."
"Under [President Rodrigo Duterte's] leadership and with his commitment of promoting the interests of our Muslim brothers and sisters, unauthorized and corrupt add-ons on fees were likewise removed and will never burden the pilgrims from this day forward," Panelo said.
Panelo added that for 2019, visiting Mecca has become "more affordable" because of the opening of a third airline.
He said the third airline would allow Filipino pilgrims to save money of up to P30,000.
"Before, only two airlines were given landing rights by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj. This year, with the addition of a third airline, a pilgrim will enjoy savings of P11,664 up to P30,214," the Palace official said.
"This level of reduction in the cost of performing the Hajj is unprecedented -- a result of our successful negotiation with Saudi Arabian authorities which waived their 2-airline policy and allowed a third airline to operate with a lower airfare offer," he added. (SunStar Philippines)