The provincial capitol of South Cotabato in Koronadal City. MindaNews photo by BONG S. SARMIENTO
KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 13 January) – The provincial government of South Cotabato has declared Friday, January 16, a holiday for government or public offices in the area in observance of the sacred Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj or the Night Journey and Ascension of Prophet Muhammad.
Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. ordered the suspension of work for government offices pursuant to an advisory issued by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos – Region 12 (NCMF-12) that Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj is a recognized Muslim holiday in the country.
The holiday recognition is contained in Presidential Decree (PD) 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines, he said in Memorandum Order 012 dated January 12 and made public Tuesday.
Tamayo noted he declared a holiday for South Cotabato as the province is the regional center or seat of government of Region 12 or Soccsksargen region.
Line agencies of national government offices hold offices in Koronadal City, the capital and component city of South Cotabato.
Tamayo directed government offices in the province involved in the delivery of health services, security, and calamity or disaster responders to maintain operations.
However, should there be Muslim government officials and employees in the aforementioned offices and departments, they shall be excused from reporting to office without being marked absent, he added.
Carimah Hadji Ismael, NCMF-12 officer-in-charge, said that the Civil Service Commission also recognizes Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj as a Muslim holiday through CSC Resolution 81-1277 dated November 13, 1981.
Citing Article 170 (1) of PD 1083, Ismael stated in a public advisory dated last January 7 that Muslim holidays shall be officially observed in the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and in the cities of Cotabato, Iligan, Marawi, Pagadian and Zamboanga, and in “such other Muslim provinces and cities as may hereafter be created.”
PD 1083 was issued on February 4, 1977 by then-President Ferdinand Marcos.
Under article 172 of PD 1083, all Muslim government officials and employees in places other than those enumerated under Article 170 (1) of the same law shall be excused from reporting to office in order that they may observe the Muslim holiday, Ismael said.
He reiterated that all Muslim government workers across the country will not be marked absent if they will not report to work on Friday.
In a briefer, the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta (Islamic advisory council) said that Al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj “is one of the greatest signs and miracles bestowed upon Prophet Muhammad.”
Al-Isra’ refers to the Prophet’s night journey from Makkah to Jerusalem, while Al-Mi’raj refers to his ascension into the heavens, it added. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)
