By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL
Managing Editor

MARAWI CITY: The refund of paid services fee or Mutawiff of the intending pilgrims for 2020 whose journey for the Hajj was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic will push through after the lifting of the MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine) status in Lanao del Sur and Iligan City, an official from the government hajj agency said.

In an exclusive interview, Director Malo Manonggiring, chief of the Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (BPE-NCMF), told the Philippine Muslim Today that the refund of the Mutawiff Fee will resume in Lanao del Sur, Marawi City, and Iligan City by October 1 as soon as the MECQ quarantine status shall have lapsed by September 30.

“I call upon all the Sheikhs of Lanao del Sur, Marawi City including Iligan City to inform their respective Jama’as not to worry since they can have their refund of their Mutawiff fees paid upon by October 1 in time for the lifting of MECQ by the end of the month of September,” Manonggiring emphasized.

It can be recalled that the payment of reimbursement of Mutawiff fees was postponed effective Monday, September 7 and until further notice when the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) in these places elevated the quarantine status to MECQ due to the spikes of the number of persons tested positive of COVID-19.

Among the known personalities from Lanao del Sur afflicted and tested positive of Coronavirus is Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan, the Health Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and his wife.

Although they were tested asymptomatic, however Dr. Dipatuan and his wife had a 14-day quarantine period at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) in Marawi City.

Dipatuan meanwhile advised all the people in Cotabato City and Marawi City they have made closed contacts to subject themselves to the required 14 day status of quarantine. (Muslimedia.PH)