LAWS AND RULES RE: CREATION OF OFFICE OF THE MUSLIM AFFAIRS AND

INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES

A. NATIONAL LAW
1. Republic Act No. 9997 or the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Act
of 2009

 Section 3. Creation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos. - In pursuance

of the abovementioned policy, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos,
hereinafter referred to as the Commission, is hereby created.

The Commission, which shall be under the Office of the President, shall take over
the functions of the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA), which is hereby abolished.
Its coverage shall be both local and national affairs involving Muslim Filipinos
that include the implementation of economic, educational, cultural, and
infrastructure programs for Muslim Filipino communities.

 Section 13. Regional Offices, Field Offices, Sub-Offices. - The Commission is hereby

authorized to establish, operate, and maintain Regional Offices in such
appropriate administrative regions of the country, each of which shall be headed
by a Regional Director.

A Regional Office shall have, within its administrative region, the following
functions:

(a)Implement laws, rules, regulations, policies, programs. and projects of the

Commission;
(b)Establish regional and provincial Hajj coordinating and monitoring units:
(c)Provide efficient and effective service to Muslim Filipinos:
(d)Coordinate with regional offices and agencies of the Executive Department:
(e)Coordinate with local government units: and
(f)Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.

The Commission is likewise authorized to establish, operate, maintain, and

determine the functions of field offices and sub-offices, whenever necessary,
appropriate and feasible.

2. Sec 23, Article II, 1987 Constitution- “The State shall encourage non-
governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare
of the nation.”
3. Sec 17, Article XIV, 1987 Constitution- “The State shall recognize, respect,
and protect the rights of indigenous cultural communities to preserve and
develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions. It shall consider these
rights in the formulation of national plans and policies.
4. Sec. 16, Chapter 2 RA 7160 (LGC of 1991)- General Welfare. – Every local
government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those
necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or
incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are
essential to the promotion of the general welfare. Within their respective
territorial jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support,
among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote
health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology,
encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant
 scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals, enhance
economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their
residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and
convenience of their inhabitants.

B. LOCAL LAWS

1. Executive Order No. 36, S.2020- Creating the Quezon City Bangsamoro Affairs
Service under the Office of the City Mayor

2. Executive Order 16, S.2014- Providing for The Creation of The Muntinlupa City
Muslim Affairs Office, Its Composition and Function

3. Mandaue, Cebu Ordinance No. 03-2019- " An Ordinance creating the Local Office
of Muslim Affairs (LOMA) Establishing Its Functions, Appropriating Funds
Therefore and For Other Purposes. (LOMA is under the City Mayor’s Office)