The Bangsamoro Pilgrimage Authority (BPA) delegation, led by Deputy Executive Director Abdulkahar Victor, listens to the orientation of the Ministry of Religion for Aceh Province on how they effectively manage the Hajj Operation in Indonesia during the benchmarking tour from December 11 to 15, 2023. (Photo courtesy of BPA)
COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Pilgrimage Authority (BPA) embarked on a transformative 5-day tour, delving into Indonesia’s adept pilgrimage management at the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion in Aceh Province and Jakarta in Indonesia from December 11-15, 2023.
This benchmarking endeavor was made possible through the collaboration of the Hidayatullah Organization, led by its Head of International Relations, Sh. Dzikrullah W. Pramudya, and the Alhuffaz Charity Foundation in Southern Philippines, Inc.
The primary objectives of the tour were to absorb Indonesia’s gold standards in supervising both Hajj and Umrah, assimilate best practices, and craft impactful programs for the advancement of Hajj and Umrah management in the BARMM.
Deputy Executive Director Abdulkahar Victor spearheaded the delegation, introducing the BPA’s mandates and its pivotal role in the Office of the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Government.
“The BPA is one of the products of peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” Victor emphasized.
The delegation received a warm reception from H Rizal Mulyadi SAg MA, Head of the Regular Hajj Registration and Documents Team in the PHU Sector, and Dr. Taharuddin MA, PAI Team Head in the SMA/SMK Islamic Religious Education Sector, who also served as the translator.
Dr. Taharudin shared invaluable insights into Hajj and Umrah management in Indonesia, tracing its roots to the Aceh Freedom Movement.
“This resulted from the past efforts for Aceh Freedom Movement, that the Indonesian Central Government granted with a slot of 10% of its total population every year for Hajj,”Taharudin explained.
“Acehnese pilgrims take their departures for Hajj directly from Banda Aceh to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the facilitation of the Hajj authority in this province,” he added.
The BPA also explored the Hajj Fund Management Agency (BPKH) in Jakarta, where Dr. Hadiyati Munawarah M. Ak, Ak. CA CGRP, Deputy for Planning and Research, presented office policies governing Indonesian Pilgrims.
Dr. Hadiyati revealed, “There are 5 million registered pilgrims on the waiting list for a period of 10 to 40 years to do the actual rituals of Hajj in Saudi Arabia, and out of that for the year 2023 Hajj, there are more than 250,000 pilgrims and BPKH give 40% subsidy from the revenue of the Waqf Hajj Fund.”
Additionally, the team participated in the Launching of the 4 Years Program for Hajj and Umrah organized by Universitas Ibnu Chaldun and Bersinergi Dengan Visitrip Group in Jakarta Timur.
Through their scholarship program, a commitment was made to empower students from Bangsamoro in supporting the establishment of the Hajj and Umrah Management of the BPA.
The delegation concluded its journey at the Main Office of Hidayatullah in Jakarta, where Mr. Asih Subagyo, M.KOM, Head of the Organizational Affairs Division, presented the framework of the Zakat and Waqaf Management System by the Government of Indonesia.
The Ministry of Religion for Aceh Province and the Central Government of Indonesia, represented by BPKH, express unwavering support for the realization of the Hajj operation by the BPA for the Bangsamoro People.
The BPA delegates included BPA Pilgrimage Operation Division Chief Engr. Al Kashmir Ko, Development Management Officer Fahad Edtim, and Administrative Assistant Yasser Hamza, alongside Engr. Zubair Guiaman and Sheikh Mas-od Mohammadali. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO with reports from BPA)
