Looking at OMA Davao (now NCMF) at a Glance

In an office like ours, Teamwork can be defined as the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Though the usual image that we portray is that; we pretend to work because they pretend to pay us, we still need to keep our dreams alive. We need to understand to achieve anything which requires faith and belief in ourselves, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. We must always remember that all things are possible for those who believe. And with this, we have to do our jobs. Extend our helping hands and let it be known that we are equally needed. This is our commitment to ourselves and to the almighty.

RAMADHAN 2010

Ramadan in 2010, insha Allah will start on Wednesday, the 11th of August and will continue for 30 days until Thursday, the 9th of September.

Based on sightability in North America, in 2010 Ramadan will start in North America a day later - on Thursday, the 12th of August.

Note that in the Muslim calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Tuesday, the 10th of August.

Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.

The dates provided here are based on the dates adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America for the celebration of Ramadan. Note that these dates are based on astronomical calculations to affirm each date, and not on the actual sighting of the moon with the naked eyes. This approach is accepted by many, but is still being hotly debated.

For more information contact our Local Office here in Davao at National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Pelayo Bldg., Juan Luna St., Davao City with telephone number 2275537.

New Law Abolishes OMA

New law abolishes OMA
GMA creates new Muslim commission
By EDD K. USMAN
February 19, 2010, 5:56pm

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday signed Republic Act No. 9997 which abolishes the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA) and creates as replacement a more powerful strengthened National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

In anticipation of the NCMF, OMA Executive Director Datu Ali B. Sangki created a task force to help in the transition period.

With nine commissioners, NCMF's “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.”

The new law is the reconciled and approved versions of Senate Bill No. 3482 and House Bill No. 4253.

R.A. No. 9997 says: “It is henceforth the policy of the State 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.

A loose yet consistent advocate of issues and concerns for the welfare of the Islamic community, the Muslim Inter-Organizational Meeting (MIOM) chaired by Haji Nassief Malawani lauded the realization of the NCMF. MIOM believes the NCMF is a great gift to Muslims by the Arroyo administration and the 14th Congress.

Ali Reza Kunting, MIOM Secretariat head, said MIOM hails Arroyo, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Speaker Prospero Nograles, Senate Majority Floorleader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and other senators and congressmen for acknowledging through R.A. No. 9997 the need to address more strongly the welfare of the Moro people.

As this developed, the Manila Bulletin learned that some OMA personnel were worried that they could be displaced in the NCMF.

The bill says, “All regular and permanent employees of OMA shall be absorbed or transferred to the Commission: Provided they possess the necessary qualifications.”

OMA employees who declined to be named voiced the hope the NCMF creation will not result to their becoming jobless