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DAVAO CITY — The Bangsamoro Parliament’s Rules Committee June 1, 2026, has approved the conduct of region-wide focus group discussions (FGDs) on a proposed measure seeking to institutionalize Da’wah activities in the region, with consultations scheduled in the second week of June.
The committee finalized the schedule during a meeting held at around 7:30 p.m. following the strategic planning session of Bangsamoro lawmakers earlier in the day.
Parliament Bill No. 463, authored by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Yacob and Member of the Parliament (MP) Muhammad Nadzir Ebil, seeks to establish a Bangsamoro Da’wah Center and a Bangsamoro Da’wah Council to oversee and coordinate Da’wah-related programs and initiatives across the region.
Speaker Yacob said the measure is among the priority legislative initiatives supported by Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua, who has pushed for programs that strengthen moral governance and institutional development in the region.
Under the bill, “Da’wah” is defined as activities that promote ethical communication, cultural understanding, and values-based education anchored on Bangsamoro identity and traditions.
During the same meeting, the committee agreed to incorporate into its deliberations the substance of proposed Resolution No. 716, which calls for the creation of a Bangsamoro Office for Religious and Cultural Affairs (BORCA) under the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM).
Deputy Chief Minister Ali Solaiman and MP Said Sheik said the resolution seeks to establish a coordinating body for Da’wah programs, interfaith engagement, and cultural integration initiatives throughout the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The BARMM is comprised of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, and the Special Geographic Area (SGA) with eight municipalities in North Cotabato but under the Bangsamoro government jurisdiction.
Presiding Officer MP Rasol Mitmug, Jr. stressed the importance of broad stakeholder participation in the consultation process, saying the FGDs will involve not only religious leaders and Muslim communities but also non-Muslim sectors.
Mitmug also described the bill as timely, citing ongoing national efforts to strengthen Shari’ah institutions and improve access to justice for Muslim Filipinos.
His remarks came as Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen has called for reforms to make justice more accessible to Muslim communities through stronger Shari’ah courts, expanded legal education, and increased training opportunities for Muslim lawyers in Shari’ah practice. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)