DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 03 November) — It’s still a holiday on Monday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and the cities therein as Muslims celebrate Amon Jadid or New Year of the Hijrah calendar.
Mama Arba, OIC Regional Director of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos in Cotabato City said Amon Jadid is “among the recognized Muslim holidays in the country” by virtue of Article 169 of Presidential Decree 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws issued on February 4, 1977.
Citing the section, Arba said the holiday “shall be officially observed in the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and in the cities of Cotabato, Iligan, Marawi, Pagadian and Zamboanga and in such other Muslim provinces and cities as may hereafter be created.”
The provinces and cities cited in the 1977 law were the component areas of the then Regional Autonomous Governments 9 and 12, which preceded the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
Amon Jadid is among the regular non-working holidays listed in the ARMM Holiday Law of 1992.
ARMM comprises the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi. (MindaNews)