DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has created an Interim Moro office to address the needs of the Moro community in the city through the issuance of Executive Order (EO) 68, Series of 2021.
EO 68, or an "An Order Creating the Interim Moro Affairs Office and Defining Its Functions," emphasizes the need to create an Interim Moro Office given the big Moro community in the city.
Davao City is home to 11 tribes, thus making it a multicultural city that is composed of Christians, Muslims, and Lumad.
Duterte-Carpio said the city is home to six Moro groups, namely, the Sama, Maranao, Kagan, Iranun, Maguindanaon, and Taosug.
"It is essential to create a local office which will specifically cater to the needs of the Moro community in the city, and to promote equality and unity among Dabawenyos," Duterte-Carpio said.
She cited Republic Act (RA) 9997, otherwise known as "National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Act of 2009," which declares that it is a state policy to ensure 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.
RA 9997 also created the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), which is mandated to preserve and develop the culture, tradition, institutions, and wellbeing of Muslim Filipinos, in conformity with the country's laws and in consonance with national unity and development.
The Interim Moro Affairs Office is attached to the Office of the City Mayor that will oversee its day-to-day function.
EO 68 mandates the deputy mayors of the Moro tribes, namely, the lranun, Kagan, Maguindanaon, Maranao, Sama, Tausug to manage the Interim Moro Affairs Office and is the primary pipeline to execute instructions, programs, and projects of Davao City designed to promote the welfare, growth, and development of the Muslim communities.
The new office is a primary agency of the City Government of Davao in ensuring the preservation and development of the culture, tradition, institutions, and well-being of Muslim residents in Davao City.
It acts as a medium through which Muslim residents of Davao City can seek government assistance, and linkage to local and national offices in terms of Muslim affairs; closely coordinate with local and national agencies about programs and provisions affecting Muslim communities; formulate and implement policies, plans, programs and projects aimed towards the advancement of the Muslim communities in Davao City; provide advice and assistance in the implementation and monitoring of policies, plans, programs, and projects affecting Muslim communities in Davao City; and promote and enhance the development of domestic trade and commerce among the members of the Muslim communities in Davao City.
The Interim Moro Affairs Office is also tasked to cooperate or coordinate with existing public enterprises, corporations, or private entities, promote or facilitate the establishment of joint ventures and investments by the members of the Muslim communities in Davao City; promote and develop the Philippine Halal Industry and assist in the accreditation of halal-certified entities/bodies in partnership or cooperation with appropriate agencies, individuals and institutions here and abroad; develop criteria for allocating additional resources for education, economic, and cultural development programs; monitor and evaluate the performance of all existing policies and development programs of the government that seek to strengthen and uplift the socio-economic conditions of Muslim residents of Davao City and identify areas that need government intervention and support, and perform such other functions as may be necessary for its effective operations and continued enhancement as a government entity.
The Interim Moro Affairs Office’s operational costs shall be charged to available funds of the Office of the City Mayor, subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
EO 68 will take effect immediately.
Other provisions of EO 68 can be read at https://www.davaocity.gov.ph/transparency/executive-orders/2021-executive-orders/. (CIO)