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MANILA — National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Sabuddin N. Abdurahim assures Filipino Muslims of efficient spending of the fhp1.132-billion approved budget of the Commission for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, which is 22.37 percent higher than its budget in FY 2024.
The NCMF budget is under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s Php281.3-billion FY 2025 budget approved by the House of Representatives (HOR) on September 19, 2024.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our legislators in the HOR and Senate for their unwavering support for the programs of the NCMF, and to DILG Secretary Atty. Benhur Abalos for championing our initiatives. This funding will empower the Commission to serve Filipino Muslim communities better,” said Secretary Abdurahim.
He said the NCMF FY 2025 budget will enhance various initiatives, including 2025 Hajj operations, ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certification processes, and Filipino Muslim registry in collaboration with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). It will also address operational needs for the Offices of the Commissioners and various divisions.
Further, key infrastructure projects funded by this budget include the construction of the NCMF Davao Regional Office building and investments in ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) projects to improve service delivery.
Senator Francis N. Tolentino, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said during the budget hearing on September 19, 2024, that the NCMF budget for FY 2025 “might probably increase because of the need for halal certification processors.”
After five years of lobbying, the Commission’s historic shift to fiscal decentralization will start in FY 2025 aiming to empower its 11 Regional Offices (ROs) as implementing units. Secretary Abdurahim acknowledged the support of the Department of the Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman for this anticipated transition.
“I also thank DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman for her full support of the NCMF’s endeavors, particularly the approval of budget decentralization, which will finally be operationalized next year. Our gratitude to her, too, for approving the creation of a new Halal division of the NCMF Bureau of Muslim Economic Affairs,” Secretary Abdurahim added.
The NCMF, he said, remains dedicated to maintaining the DILG’s high trust rating while effectively addressing the diverse needs of Muslim communities across the country.
NCMF Executive Director (ED) Tahir S. Lidasan, Jr. commended the dedication of NCMF officials in lobbying for the FY 2025 budget, emphasizing their shared responsibility to uplift the welfare of Muslim Filipinos.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to my co-NCMF officials for their dedication and hard work in defending the NCMF FY 2025 budget, especially to Secretary Abdurahim, who stood and led every budget deliberation. Everyone’s commitment shows that we can uplift and support the needs of Muslim Filipinos. Together, we will make a meaningful impact on their lives, and achieve our common goal of enhancing their well-being towards a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay sa isang (strong, prosperous and peaceful life in) Bagong Pilipinas,” ED Lidasan said.
He said that aside from the Php1.132-billion budget of NCMF for FY 2025, the Commission lobbied for Php75-million additional budget through congressional initiative.
Planning Service (PS) Director Haidee V. Ampatuan said that the requested budget augmentation for the Commission is especially lobbied for the 11 NCMF ROs (Regional Offices) in line with fiscal decentralization.
“It’s a milestone to have the decentralization approved by DBM. But it would be in vain if ROs don’t have the fiscal empowerment and resources to implement responsive programs and projects in their respective regions. Kaya sana’y ma-aprubahan ang hiling na dagdag pondo ng Komisyon para sa mga mamamayang Pilipinong Muslim,” she said.
The budget deliberations saw strong participation from NCMF officials headed by Secretary Abdurahim, Commissioner Datu Ras S. Lidasan, Jr., Commissioner Dalisay N. Macadawan, Commissioner Atty. Michael M. Mamukid, ED Lidasan, Deputy Executive Director (DED) Atty. Jehan-Jehan A. Lepail, Chief-of-Staff (COS) Atty. Hassanal H. Abdurahim, PS Director Ampatuan, Bureau of Muslim Settlement (BMS) Director Sultan Masideng M. Salic, Bureau of External Relations (BER) Acting Director Ceazar M. Maranda, Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs (BMCA) Acting Director Atty. Michael Mito-on J. Ali, Finance and Management Service (FMS) Acting Director Khamil M. Manalundong, Chief Budget Officer Estrella L. Neri, PS-Management Information System Division (MISD) Chief Abdulaziz P. Abubakar, Atty. Rhaiza A. Dellova, and PS staff Adrienne A. Abusaman. (/)