The House of Representatives has approved House Bill 10867, also known as the Hajj Privatization Bill, on its second reading. The bill was introduced by Maguindanao del Norte Representative Bai Dimple Mastura, who also represents Cotabato City. This proposed legislation seeks to provide Muslim Filipino pilgrims greater freedom in arranging their travel needs for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
House Bill 10867 aims to allow pilgrims the option to select private agencies or independently manage their logistics, including plane tickets, hotel accommodations, and other necessary expenses for the pilgrimage. This initiative responds to growing dissatisfaction over the management of the Hajj by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), following complaints about their handling of the 2023 Hajj.
Pilgrims raised issues regarding inadequate transportation, substandard food, and poor accommodations, all of which they felt were unjustified given the costs they had paid. As a result, Congress moved swiftly to investigate these grievances and crafted the bill to privatize Hajj logistics, effectively amending the NCMF’s role.
If passed, the bill would remove the NCMF’s responsibility for booking tickets, arranging accommodations, and providing food. Instead, the commission’s role would be limited to representing Muslim Filipino pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, while allowing individuals to make their own arrangements for their sacred journey.
“I am delighted that my fellow lawmakers have listened to the concerns of our Muslim Filipino brothers and sisters regarding their Hajj experience,” said Rep. Mastura. “We are committed to pushing this forward to a third reading, and I fully support any measure that upholds the sanctity of our Islamic faith.”
House Bill 10867 is now set for its third reading, bringing it one step closer to becoming law.
