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BillSBN-1720th Congress

Muslim Prayer Room Act of the Philippines

In committee Filed Jul 2, 2025
◷ Where it standsIn Committee
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on July 2, 2025, and referred to the Committees on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs and Finance; it has been consolidated and substituted by SBN-1629 as of December 17, 2025.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Moderate

The bill addresses the need for inclusive spaces for Muslim citizens in public settings.

Muslim FilipinosPublic office staffVisitors to public establishments
Timeliness
Timely

The bill responds to the ongoing need for inclusive facilities in public spaces for diverse religious practices.

Affects you ifMuslim employeesPublic office visitorsCultural communitiesGovernment agencies
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
7.5/ 10
Long title

Muslim Prayer Room Act of the Philippines

Plain-language summary
✦AI Summary

The Muslim Prayer Room Act mandates the establishment of designated prayer rooms for Muslims in all public offices and establishments across the Philippines, ensuring that Muslim citizens have appropriate spaces to perform their daily prayers.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresAll public offices must designate at least one Muslim prayer room.
RequiresPublic offices are responsible for the provision and maintenance of these prayer rooms.
FundsInitial implementation costs will be taken from the current year's appropriations of the concerned agencies.
FundsSubsequent funding will be included in the General Appropriations Act.
DeadlineThe National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) must promulgate implementing rules and regulations within 90 days from effectivity.
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

No designated prayer rooms in public offices.

This bill

Mandates at least one Muslim prayer room in all public offices.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

The Act requires all public offices and establishments to designate and set up at least one separate Muslim prayer room within their premises.

Source · full text
Issue areas
HealthLocal GovernmentSocial WelfareMuslim Prayer RoomsCultural CommunitiesPublic OfficesNational Commission on Muslim Filipinos

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
Jul 2, 2025Senate
Introduced by Senator ROBINHOOD PADILLA;
Jul 29, 2025Senate
Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committees on CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND MUSLIM AFFAIRS and FINANCE;
Aug 20, 2025Senate
Conducted ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING/BRIEFING;
Oct 2, 2025Senate
Conducted TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP;
Dec 17, 2025Senate
Returned and submitted jointly by the Committee(s) on CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND MUSLIM AFFAIRS and FINANCE per Committee Report No. 23, recommending that it be substituted by SBN-1629;
Dec 17, 2025Senate
Committee Report Calendared for Ordinary Business;
Dec 17, 2025Senate
SUBSTITUTED BY SBN-1629 UNDER COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 23;
✦ AI insight

Stalled: the bill has been in committee since its introduction on July 2, 2025, with no recorded action since it was substituted by SBN-1629 on December 17, 2025.

Tap a term to decode it
Floor activity

No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.

Full text
SBN-17 — verbatim textAs filed

we meet TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 JUL -2 P4:29 SENATE S. No. - 1'7 Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSLIM PRAYER ROOMS IN ALL PUBLIC OFFICES AND ESTABLISHMENTS EXPLANATORY NOTE The Philippines is a democratic and pluralistic society that takes pride in ensuring that every Filipino - regardless of faith - is given the dignity, respect, and space to practice their beliefs in peace and free from discrimination. As a country that is home to millions of Muslim Filipinos, the Philippines must strive to embody inclusivity not only in lip service but in concrete and tangible actions. It is always observed that the lack of designated and dignified spaces in government buildings and institutions often forces our Muslim brothers and sisters to pray in stairwells, hallways, or other inappropriate and uncomfortable places. This is inhumane, unjust and not in accordance with the principles of inclusivity. This proposed measure, originally filed by Senator Mark Villar last Congress, seeks to provide remedy to this sad reality by mandating the establishment of Muslim Prayer Rooms in all public offices and establishments nationwide to provide a safe and appropriate space for our Muslim brothers and sisters bound by faith to perform their daily prayers (Salah) five times a day. Under this measure, all public offices and establishments shall be required to designate a Muslim Prayer Room within their premises. These prayer rooms are to be

maintained respectfully and regularly, in coordination with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF). This bill is not asking for a special treatment. It is asking for fair accommodation— a simple room, a quiet space, a clean area where one can kneel in prayer and fulfill a spiritual obligation. This measure, albeit its simplicity, is a reflection of a government that respects all cultures, embraces religious sensitivities, and stands firm in its commitment to human dignity. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. ROBINHQOD PADILLA Senator

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 JUL -2 P4:29 RiCH SENATE 1'7 S. No._ Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSLIM PRAYER ROOMS IN ALL PUBLIC OFFICES AND ESTABLISHMENTS Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Muslim Prayer Room

Act of the Philippines."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared a policy of the State to promote

and uphold the religious rights of its citizenry. The State recognizes the importance of providing adequate spaces for Muslim employees and visitors to fulfill their religious duties in all public offices and establishments nationwide.

Sec. 3. Establishment of Muslim Prayer Rooms. - All public offices and

establishments nationwide shall designate and set up at least one (1) separate Muslim prayer room within their respective premises. The provision and maintenance of 10 Muslim prayer rooms are the responsibility of the public offices and establishments.

Sec. 4. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the initial implementation of

this Act shall be taken from the current year's appropriations of the agencies concerned. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The National Commission on

2 Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), in coordination with the other pertinent government agencies, shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of 4 this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.

Sec. 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be held

unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive

order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

Sec. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

13 publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.