MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed on May 19 Proclamation No. 944 to declared May 25, Monday, a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadhan this year.
The said proclamation was issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 9177 designating Eid’l Fitr, a religious tradition of Muslim faithful around the world signaling the end of their 40-day fasting, doing charitable work, and self-sacrifice.
It says, “whereas, the entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr, subject to existing community quarantine and social distancing measures.”
It further states that the said celebration is commemorated “in order to bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness” of Philippine society, which is predominantly Christians.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2015 set Muslim at 24 percent of the Philippine population, majority of them are in Mindanao. President Duterte, during his 20-year stint as mayor of Davao City took care of Muslim communities and ensuring their integration to Philippine society.
Among his programs were the institutionalization of Madrasah, or basic Arabic schools, hiring Madrasah teachers and Imams (traditional prayer leaders), appointing Muslim leaders in each administrative district, supporting the Sharia Law, and sponsoring Muslims wanting to join the yearly haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
