A new Officer-In-Charge (OIC) was appointed recently to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and talk about the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage. Atty Michael Mamukid was the newly appointed Secretary for the commission replacing Yusoph Mando.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars a Muslim must undertake once in his lifetime and as Filipino Muslim it is the governments responsibility through NCMF that the welfare of pilgrims is taken care of while doing such activity.

In his press statement distributed to the press and media he says that he’s informing the public thatthe Hajj 2024 will push through and that the new process for Mutawiff fee is unlike in previous years so the process of those pilgrims that are registered with the NCMF has been difficult so the country (Philippines) may not be able to catch up with the cut-off imposed by Saudi Arabiai’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah that will be sent to Al-Rajhi Bank.

The Mutawiff fee ruled by the Commission on Audit that is being paid by pilgrims are public funds and should undergo regular processes of the government hence it will take some time to reach Saudi Arabia. The challenge he says is the race against time because the portal of the Hajj Ministry is closing and he appeals for concern agencies to relax the regulations and facilitate the smooth transfer of payment in order for them (the NCMF) to beat the deadline imposed by the Saudi Arabia Government, the Ministry of Hajj in particular

The Hajj is an important part of the Islamic faith, for Muslims its a one’s in a lifetime experience that’ why some of us saved a fortune for this religious obligation.///Mary Jane O. Balaguer, 09053611058, maryjaneolvina@gmail.com DZMJ ONLINE DAWAH ZAKAT MAKABULUHANG JORNALISMO YOUR HAPPINESS CHANNEL

below is the press statement fro new NCMF OIC Secretary Atty. Michael Mamukid dated March 22 2024.