In 1975, Mamondiong’s government service began after he passed the legal exam during the Martial Law era. However, instead of joining prominent legal firms, Mamondiong applied for a Labor Relations Officer position at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Thereafter, he moved to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), where he worked as a Legal Officer and later as a Hearing Officer. In 1980, he was elected to the Lanao Del Sur Provincial Board.

After his term, Mamondiong joined the National Union of Christian Democrats-United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines at the conclusion of the EDSA Revolution (NUCD-UMDP). During the administration of President Ramos, Mamondiong began to hold increasingly important roles in government service. He joined the Board of the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation as a director (PNOC-EDC).

According to Mamondiong, he was one of the board members who launched a nationwide oil exploration so that the Philippines would not be overly reliant on foreign nations for their petroleum needs. Thereafter, he was transferred to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) where he served as Undersecretary for the Municipal Telephone Project.

Mamondiong was later on appointed as Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) when he supported the election of President Rodrigo Duterte. He is pleased to announce that he was able to provide numerous Filipinos with training opportunities and support several training institutes while in TESDA. He resigned from the government to run for Lanao del Sur Governor in the 2019 election.

Considering Mamondiong’s extensive government experience, Duterte presented him with the greatest career challenge. The President chose Mamondiong to lead the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

On March 8, 2022, President Duterte appointed Mamondiong as the new Secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos. Mamondiong assumed office and took the oath at the NCMF Central Office along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, administered by NCMF Executive Director Tahir S. Lidasan, Jr., CESO II.

---

NCMF Appointment

He also sits as Chairman of the Muslim Economic Development Council (MEDC), Chairman of the Lanao Alliance for Good Governance (LAGG), and a senior adviser to the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP). Mamondiong created and chaired the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordination Committee (MRRD NECC) in May 2016. Mamondiong is one of the founding members of the United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines (UMDP), which propelled a number of its executives into government positions.

NCMF Mandate

Under Republic Act No. 9997, the NCMF is mandated to preserve and develop Muslim Filipinos’ culture, tradition, institutions, and well-being in conformity with the country’s laws and in consonance with national unity and development.

One of the NCMF’s functions is to serve as the primary government agency through which Muslim Filipinos can seek government assistance and redress, and to serve as the medium through which such assistance may be extended to Muslim Filipinos. Accordingly, the Commission is hereby authorized, subject to existing auditing rules and regulations, to make grants-in-aid from its appropriations or other appropriate funds to cooperating government agencies for such programs or projects.

The Commission’s services are categorized as follows: socio-cultural, socio-economic, social protection, and socio-political in order to carry out these tasks. Regarding socio-cultural activities, NCMF handles the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Qur’an competition, Shari’ah instruction, and assistance to Madrasah. There are programs in halal, cooperatives, small and medium-sized businesses, and skill development on the socio-economic front. Muslim settlements, peacekeeping, dispute resolution, and legal aid are all aspects of social protection services.

In order to adapt to the circumstances, the Commission created a new category of service called socio-political, which primarily involves the political mapping of Muslim leaders and groups.

Mamondiong asserts that to strengthen its system for delivering public services, spurring economic development, and advancing national unity, the NCMF must adopt new strategies and realign program priorities. To do this, the Commission must ensure that the Muslim Filipino community continues to make substantial contributions to the innovations and development that this nation needs to succeed under the new Administration.

The Commission will pursue creative programs in accordance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s advice that “the country must adapt to current developments since the Philippine economy is very largely technical-based, based on science and technical innovations” (Marcos Jr., Manilatimes.net, June 6, 2022). The Commission shall engage in innovative and collaborative programs; it must not be “business as usual.”

NCMF Priority Programs

• Halal Agro-industrial Hub

To stimulate economic development, the Commission aims to establish Halal hubs. Halal producers, manufacturers, marketers, exporters, and importers located in an economic zone will undoubtedly bring the halal ecosystem closer together in order to improve operational efficiency and sustain economic activities. A 20-30-hectare contiguous land area would be suitable for a global-standard halal product requiring its halal essence from farm to plate. Infrastructure development will be required for the proposed hub (slaughterhouse, training center, laboratory, production, and sorting areas, storage and warehouse facilities, and operations center). Cattle/goat raising, poultry, organic vegetable, and high-value crop farming are examples of production activities. This could be filed with the NCMF’s Bureau of Muslim Economic Affairs (BMEA)

• Muslim Settlements

There are more than 12 million people in the Philippines, most of whom are relocating to the urban areas of Luzon, Visayas, and the more progressive regions of Mindanao. This is primarily because lateral conflicts hampered economic activities in many Muslim areas. The ensuing exodus has long required an all-encompassing response. The NCMF has designated three (3) locations where Muslims may settle according to their way of life. It is possible to reproduce government programs on socialized housing projects with access to community livelihood centers, schools, and hospitals.

• Islamic Science, Technology, and Innovation

In terms of catching up in the fields of research and development, the situation of Filipino science and technology needs more room for improvement. In 2016, there were only 80 scientists for every million people in the nation, compared to 4,000 in other countries. Nevertheless, the Muslim world has made significant contributions to science. The idea that science is universal and the common language of humanity was best expressed by scientists from the Renaissance to the Middle Ages. The prospects for Muslim Filipinos in STEM fields are promising. The NCMF is prepared to use Islamic science and technology to bolster the burgeoning interest in these fields and advance economic development, mainly so that the Philippine economy is heavily technical and built on scientific and technological advancements. Over six months, NCMF will be able to identify and connect with Muslim researchers from around the world.

• Political and International Islamic Affairs

With an astounding 32 million votes, Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. enjoys the support of the majority of the population. More than ever, political cunning and savvy are required for the multi-level governance of Muslims and their communities, including the national government, BARMM, LGUs, and traditional customary system. The NCMF can conduct political mapping of significant local, national and international Muslim leaders to inform them of national policies and initiatives. It serves as the President’s feedback channel on Muslim problems. In order to create a substantial impact on the international stage, the country will also pursue a more active involvement through NCMF in the world of socio-economic matters.