Small-time women vendors in Sulu join the Islamic Economic System seminar organized by the Bangsamoro Women Commission-Sulu on June 13, 2024, in Jolo, Sulu. (Photo by Alline Jamar M. Undikan/BIO)
JOLO, Sulu — In line with the guidelines on women’s economic beneficiaries, the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) Sulu held an Islamic Economic System seminar for some 25 small-time women vendors coming from both island and mainland municipalities in this province on Thursday, June 13.
As part of the Tindahan ni Kakah Bai Program under the Social Development Fund, the activity aimed to equip the participants with knowledge about Islamic finance, including money borrowing and Riba’ or interest-based transactions.
BWC-Sulu led by Commissioner Hja. Nurunnihar Mohammad emphasized the significance of implementing Islamic finance in managing business entities.
During the lecture, BWC-Sulu Community Affairs Officer Musrifa Untih emphasized the significance of Muslims harmonizing their actions with the teachings of the Qur’an and the prophetic tradition, particularly in business dealings.
“Di ta duhulan ina hawa nafsu ta pasal awn agama ta… In pag-usausaha ta subay duun kita ha halal,” Untih said.
[Let us not be swayed by our own desires because we have a religion… Our way of earning a living should be halal.]
Islamic finance operates based on the principles of Shari’ah, which prohibits interest, contrary to the conventional financial system that allows for the charging and payment of interest on loans.
In a separate event, the commission also initiated an information drive for the guidelines for the certification of Women Sectoral Organizations (WSO) for Sectoral Representative Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
This is in line with Section 18, Article IV of the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 35, also known as the Bangsamoro Electoral Code of 2023, which mandates that the BWC certify women sectoral organizations and provide guidelines for the certification process.
The campaign was carried out on June 5, through radio interviews and courtesy meetings with the municipal local government units of Jolo, Panamao, and Luuk.
The initiatives undertaken by BWC-Sulu in promoting Islamic finance education and ensuring proper sectoral representation reflect a commitment to empowering women and fostering a cohesive and progressive Bangsamoro community.
These efforts serve as a testament to the dedication towards uplifting the lives of women and promoting ethical business practices not just in Sulu but in the region as a whole. (Alline Jamar M. Undikan/BIO with reports from BWC-Sulu)
