TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, August 30 (PIA) -- A Muslim Affairs Office would soon be established at the Capitol and this would be manned by Muslim employees.

This as Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado agreed that Muslims need to preserve their cultural heritage, and by opening up the Office of Muslim Affairs, it can cater to the social, economic, cultural, and educational needs of the Muslim nation.

He also believes that this will further entice Muslim tourists to enjoy Boholano hospitality and mentioned about the possible halal food made easily available here. 

The governor has sworn into office the 18 newly-elected officers of the recently-organized Bohol Muslim Community Peace Movement Inc. at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Bohol Provincial Police Office in Camp Francisco Dagohoy on August 25.

Sworn into office were Taha Malabi, President; Asnawi Matua, Vice President; Florencio Reyes, Secretary, Zafrulla Lim Jikiril, Asst Secretary; Acmad Maruhom, Treasurer; Abdulsamad Pangompig, Auditor and Amina Sacar, Bookkeeper.

Also sworn in by the governor were Nasrodin Cosain, Press Relations Officer (PRO) Bohol District I; Benjie Ali, PRO Bohol District II; Laarni Abbas, PRO Bohol District III; Abedin Macalayo, Board of Director (BOD), Darussalam Muslim Community; Dimakota Alangadi, BOD, Islamic Center Muslim Community; Alim Panarigan, BOD Muslim Village Islamic Community; Mohaimen Macaumbos, BOD, Tubigon Islamic Community; Basari Pariba, BOD, Ubay Islamic Community, Amalan Abbas, BOD, Alnasrie Islamic Community , Aliakbar Maruhom, BOD, Norol Hidaya Islamic Community and Jonas Ejoc, BOD, GASAKA Dawa Center Islamic Community. 

The said group, in Resolution No. 4 series of 2022, has requested the Provincial Government through the governor for the implementation of Executive Order No 23 issued by the former administration directing the Provincial Assessors Office to identify province-owned lots for a space for an Islamic cemetery.

In their resolution, the Muslim community said Muslims who have already established a permanent residence in the different parts of Bohol have long been confronted with the problem of lack of available lot to be used as the final resting place for their deceased brothers and sisters.

They also asserted that they are peace-loving citizens who opted to reside in Bohol by choice and are registered voters in different voting precincts, but are mostly low-income earners and cannot afford to buy the lot that can be used as a cemetery.

On this, the governor has also tasked the group to help Bohol find a suitable lot for the said purpose.

The group also asked the governor to provide an office tasked for the sacred preservation of the valued Muslim cultural heritage. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)