BARMM leaders to fund Mecca trip for poor Bangsamoro pilgrims

COTABATO CITY – Several members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) or the interim Bangsamoro Parliament have committed to funding at least 1,000 indigent Bangsamoro pilgrims on a religious journey to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in November.

The Bangsamoro Pilgrimage Authority (BPA) and 14 Members of Parliament (MPs), including Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, formalized their partnership for the 2026 Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) Umrah Assistance.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed at the Bajau Hall at the Bangsamoro Government Center here last Tuesday.

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READ: Bangsamoro pilgrims joining hajj undergo orientation, vaccination

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The MOA sets out the implementation arrangements between BPA and the sponsoring MPs, whose TDIF allocations provide for umrah assistance, particularly to poor and elderly Bangsamoro, veteran mujahideen, and other beneficiaries with limited financial capacity to undertake the journey to the Muslim holy land.

MP Ibrahim Ali, BPA executive director, described the TDIF Umrah Assistance as one of the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process, providing beneficiaries the opportunity to fulfill the Umrah, a yearly religious pilgrimage by Muslims to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

“Through this partnership, we will work diligently to ensure the orderly implementation of the program and safeguard the welfare and dignity of every beneficiary,” Ali said in a statement.

Aside from Macacua, the MPs who pledged to share funds from their TDIF are Akmad Abas, Lanang Ali, Abdulbasit Benito, Uttoh Salem Cutan, Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, Muhammad Ebil, Hatimil Hassan, Abrar Hataman, Baileng Mantawil, Sowaib Oranon, Randolph Parcasio, Said Salendab, and Kadil “Jojo” Sinolinding.

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The amount committed by each MP is still being finalized.

Ali said BPA, as the implementing agency, is responsible for orderly implementation of the assistance in coordination with the sponsoring MPs, with emphasis on beneficiary welfare and dignity throughout the program.

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“This MOA signing marks a key step in translating the MPs’ TDIF allocations into assistance for qualified Bangsamoro beneficiaries,” he added.

READ: Hajj, Islamic pilgrimage, and its significance to Muslims

The pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is one of the five pillars of Islamic faith.  The others are declaring belief in the oneness of Prophet Mohammad, praying five times a day, giving alms to the poor, and fasting from dawn to dusk for 30 days during Ramadan.

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Sinolinding, also the BARMM health minister, said his office will extend essential medical and emergency support to the Bangsamoro pilgrims./coa