MARAWI CITY ― A ten-minute prayer break will be imposed in all private and government institutions in the region, once a bill pushed by Bangsamoro legislators passes into law.

The proposed legislation aims to create an environment that respects and caters to the religious needs of employees without compromising their professional obligations.

Parliament Bill No. 178, or "Ten-Minute Prayer (Salah) Break Act, was introduced by Parliament Members Suharto Esmael, Abdullah Hashim, Matarul Estino, and Eddie Alih.

The lawmakers are seeking to establish designated prayer times during the workday to allow employees to observe their daily prayers.

Muslims are required to perform five prayers a day, collectively known as Salat, which include fajr (dawn), dhuhr (noon), asr (afternoon), maghrib (sunset), and isha (evening).

Under the proposed measure, two ten-minute prayer breaks will be scheduled daily to accommodate the religious obligations of Muslim employees.

The first interval will occur from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., which includes the regular lunch break, ensuring minimal disruption to work routines. The second break will be from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., allowing employees to fulfill their religious obligations during the workday.

To ensure the effective implementation of the bill, the BARMM's Civil Service Commission, along with the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), will oversee its enforcement across private and government institutions within the region.

If Parliament Bill No. 178 successfully passes into law, the BARMM will become one of the first regions in the Philippines to implement legislation mandating prayer breaks in both private and government institutions. (BTA/PIA Lanao del Sur)