WIEF-IDB AWQAF ROUNDTABLE Jakarta, Indonesia 5 JUNE 2014 LE MERIDIEN JAKARTA, INDONESIA “Beyond Charity: Harnessing Waqf for Economic Prosperity”

Awqaf Development: The Way Forward Role Players: H.E Yasmin Busran Lao, Secretary (Minister), National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Office of the President, Republic of the Philippines Mr. Zeinoul Abedien Cajee, Founding CEO, Awqaf South Africa, Moderator: Dr. Aznan Hasan, Associate Professor, International Islamic University Malaysia, President of Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance and Deputy Chairman of Shariah Advisory Council, Securities Commission of Malaysia WIEF-IDB AWQAF ROUNDTABLE Jakarta, Indonesia

WIEF-IDB AWQAF ROUNDTABLE Jakarta, Indonesia H.E Yasmin Busran Lao Secretary (Minister) National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Office of the President, Republic of the Philippines

Awqaf Development in the Philippines Her Excellency Yasmin Busran Lao Minister (Secretary) National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Jakarta, Indonesia June 05, 2014

Contents 1.Muslims in the Philippines 2.The Philippine Experience on Awqaf 3. Challenges 4. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos 5. Proposed MoU 3.1 Qatar 3.2 UUM Malaysia 3.3 ASEAN/OIC Member Countries 6. The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)

Brief Background on Muslim Filipinos Muslim Filipinos are a minority, comprising approximately per cent of the general population Decades of armed conflict rooted on historical injustice Majority are situated in the poorest and underdeveloped provinces of the Autonomouse Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Diaspora communities are scattered all over the country Thriving Balik-Islam (Reverts to Islam) population

The Philippine Experience on Awqaf In the Philippines, Awqaf can be claimed to have begun since the advent of Islam into the country In 2012, we have collaborated with the Universiti Utara Malaysia Cooperative to addressed livelihood program needs in the Muslim Filipinos Communities The Commission is currently profiling the Awqaf Fund that had generated support to various socio-economic needs of the Muslim Filipinos To date, we have profiled seven (7) Awqaf Properties and Contributions in the Philippines.

Beneficiaries of Awqaf in the Philippines Poor and Deserving Students (Scholarships) Communities (Goat Raising Project/Livelihood) Islamic Schools Muslim Cooperative (Livelihood) Academic Institutions (Learning Institutions)

Challenges Lack of policy guidelines at national, local and community levels Separation of the powers of Church and State in the Philippine Constitution The Existing Policy limited on the Personal and Family Relations (Code on Muslim Personal Laws) Corruption and poor governance Sustainability

The Way Forward: National Government Policy The Philippine government under the leadership of His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III supports initiative to strengthen development programs serving the Muslim Filipinos population in the Philippine archipelago.

National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Republic Act 9997 creates NCMF under the Office of the President and is mandated to cater to the needs of the Muslim Filipinos II. Legal Basis (Article 2, section 8) (s) Administer and hold in trust awqaf (endowment) properties and/or awqaf institutions, and receive by way of grant, donations or gifts, awqaf investments in accordance with the principles of Islamic investments and finance; (t) Prescribe rules and regulations for the establishment of awqaf institutions, administration of awqaf assets, and settlement of disputes among awqaf beneficiaries pursuant to the general principles of Shari'ah (Islamic Law)

NCMF Initiatives on Awqaf Priority Discussion with Malaysian Trade and Member of the Parliament of Malaysia

Waqf Forum in the Philippines In partnership with the Universiti Utara Malaysia and the Asian Institute of Management Executive Learning Center, we held a forum on Waqf to engage other stakeholders in the Philippine government (government institution, banks, private corporations and civil society organizations)

Proposed Programs: Awqaf Development in the Philippines MoU with other experts from other ASEAN and OIC Member Countries (In fact have a MoU to be signed with the State Of Qatar). Technology Sharing with other Countries Representation of the Philippine government in global discourse on the challenges as well as the vast untapped potential of waqf assets in the socio-economic development of the Muslim Filipino communities.

The Way Forward: Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)

EXCLUSIVE POWERS – matters relating to creating sources of revenues  contract loans, credits, and other forms of indebtedness with any government or private bank and other lending institutions  creation of sources of revenue  financial and banking systems; joint promotion of the Islamic banking system by the Bangsamoro, DOF, BSP and NCMF  establishment of GOCCs and GFIs  receive grants and donations

EXCLUSIVE POWERS – matters affecting needs that are particular to Muslims  hajj and umrah  awqaf and charitable trusts  hisbah office for accountability as part of the Shari’ah justice system

The Way Forward: People's/ Community Empowerment to ensure sustainability

THANK YOU AND WASSALAM

WIEF-IDB AWQAF ROUNDTABLE Jakarta, Indonesia Mr. Zeinoul Abedien Cajee Founding CEO Awqaf South Africa

WIEF-IDB AWQAF ROUNDTABLE Jakarta, Indonesia Session End

Thank You, See you in Dubai! 10 th World Islamic Economic Forum October 2014 Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre, Dubai