Philippines: Muslim prayer rooms in public offices proposed

MANILA – A senator has filed a bill proposing the establishment of Muslim prayer rooms in public offices.
Senator Mark Villa proposed Senate Bill 2288, which directs public offices and establishments to allocate and maintain at least one separate area that will serve as a prayer room in their premises.
The Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs has begun public deliberations on the proposal.
“The Islamic faith mandates our Muslim brothers and sisters to pray five times each day. As such, this representation filed Senate Bill No. 2288 or the Act Mandating the Establishment of Muslim Prayer Rooms in all Public Offices and Establishments to guarantee them prayer rooms where they can perform their prayers in a quiet, dry, and clean place,” Villar said in a statement.
“I believe that while our Constitution guarantees the free exercise and enjoyment of religious professions, without discrimination or preference, there is still a gap that needs to be fulfilled in providing the proper avenue for other religions to exercise their faith in public spaces,” he said.
In the largely Catholic Christian country, some 7 million Filipinos are of the Muslim faith. This represents 6.4% of the population, according to the Philippines 2020 census, the latest available data.
“I believe that our Muslim brothers and sisters deserve sufficient space to practice their faith and I am glad to provide that springboard for the Muslims to practice their religious rights,” Villar said.
Promoting the free exercise of the Muslim faith
In 2023, a similar measure was filed in the House of Representatives but called on both public and private establishments to designate a proper space for the religious practice.
Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman filed House Bill 7117, which requires Muslim prayer rooms be maintained in government buildings, hospitals, military camps, and privately owned establishments such as malls, offices and factories.
“To us, Muslims, we do it 5 times in a day, no matter where we are. So it is important to have a proper place where our Muslim brothers can pray,” Hataman said.
HB 7117 stated: “The Philippines’ Muslim population … forms a huge and significant part of our citizenry. It is therefore imperative for the free exercise of their Islamic faith that prayer rooms be also made available to them in government institutions and private establishments intended for public use.”
Muslim prayer rooms in public spaces
To date, there are no countries that have fully implemented mandatory prayer rooms for Muslims nationwide through legislation. However, some countries and regions have taken steps or proposed measures to accommodate Muslim prayer needs.
In Malaysia and Indonesia, which are predominantly Muslim countries, prayer rooms (musallas) are commonly found in public places such as airports, malls, and universities. These facilities are integrated into the design of buildings to support the religious practices of the majority Muslim population.
Meanwhile, in the UK, multi-faith rooms which have provisions for Muslim prayers are available in public and private spaces.
Top companies allocating prayer rooms for staff
Several top companies are accommodating Muslim employees and visitors by providing musallas in their facilities.
Amazon, for example, has established dedicated prayer rooms for its employees, allowing Muslim contractors to use these spaces for their daily prayers.
JPMorgan Chase, Accenture, and PwC are also recognised for fostering religious inclusion in the workplace. They have implemented policies that support religious practices, including the provision of prayer rooms.
American Airlines, for its part, has created a multipurpose room that is frequently used by Muslim employees for prayer. This effort addresses previous challenges where they had to pray in less suitable locations.