Muslims in Valenzuela gain voice at City Hall

Muslims living in Valenzuela City can now voice out their concerns to local officials through a formal channel recently created by the city government.

The Valenzuela Muslim Affairs Consultative Council was established through           Executive Order 2013-012 which was signed on March 22 by Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian.

“The City Government of Valenzuela, in order to foster unity of all communities, shall endeavor to involve the Muslim sector in policy formulation having regard to their cultural beliefs, customs, traditions and institutions and to further ensure their active involvement in the attainment of local goals and aspirations aimed at the promotion and enhancement of peace, progress, prosperity and cultural diversity and stability for the city,” the executive order read.

“The council is considered one of the bargaining units of the Muslim constituents of the city. The council is recognized and acknowledged to act for and behalf of our Muslim brothers, among other Muslim organizations, associations, groups recognized, acknowledged and accredited by the city,” it added.

The newly formed body is mandated to provide advice and assistance to the local government in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of policies, plans, programs and projects affecting the Muslims in the city. It can also suggest programs and policies that would promote Muslim culture.

The council will be under the direct supervision of the city mayor, who will act as its chair, with the city administrator acting as the vice chair. Other positions, such as for the president and concurrent executive officer and co-vice chairman, and internal and external vice presidents, among others, will be determined by election through a general assembly gathering the local Muslim organizations.

Pending the election, the EO named local Muslim leaders as council officials. They are led by Gamal Bato, who sits as the initial concurrent president, executive officer and co-vice chair.

Gatchalian said Valenzuela, a city of about a half a million, hosts a significant number of Muslims, although exact figures were not immediately available.

“There is a very established Muslim community in Valenzuela, and they have been living here for more than 20 years. But it is only now that we have formally reached out to them to create a group where we can discuss the things we could work on for the benefit of our Muslim brothers and sisters,” the mayor noted in a program launching the council.